Stefania is a feminine given name of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word "stephanus," which means "crown" or "garland." It was traditionally used as a male name in Italy but has become more commonly used for females in recent times.
The name Stefania is associated with various saints and martyrs throughout history. One notable example is Saint Stephanie, who was a Christian martyr during the Roman Empire's persecution of Christians. She refused to renounce her faith and was eventually martyred for her beliefs.
In literature, Stefania appears as a character in several works. In "The House of the Spirits" by Isabel Allende, Stefania is one of the main characters who plays an essential role in the novel's plot. Additionally, Stefania is mentioned as a character in the play "Life Is a Dream" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca.
Geographically, there are places named after this name. For instance, Stefania is a town and comune in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo region, Italy.
The name Stefania has also been popular among royalty throughout history. Some examples include Stephanie of Monaco, who is the current reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco, and Stephanie von Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who was a member of the German nobility and had ties to several royal houses across Europe.
The name Stefania experienced significant popularity fluctuations over the years, with a notable peak during World War I and again in recent decades. From 1914 to 1918, there was a considerable increase in births, reaching a maximum of 39 births in 1919. After a decline in the following decades, Stefania's popularity surged once more from the late 1970s onwards, with consistent high numbers of births each year until the early 2000s, and again in recent years since 2016. Overall, there have been 2580 births named Stefania recorded between 1901 and 2023.