Stefan is a name of Latin origin that means "crown" or "garland". It comes from the Latin word "stephanos", which was used to refer to a wreath or crown worn by kings, emperors, and martyrs in ancient times. The name Stefan has been used throughout history, with some notable figures including Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and Stefan Batory, a 16th-century king of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.
The name Stefan has been popular in many countries over the centuries, particularly in Eastern Europe. In Germany, it is often used as an alternative to the more common Stephen. In Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, Stefan is a well-established name that has been used for generations.
There are several variations of the name Stefan, including Steven, Stephen, and Steffen, among others. These variations reflect the different languages and cultures in which the name has been used over time.
In literature and popular culture, Stefan has appeared as a character in numerous works, such as the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, where he is a vampire, and in the video game series The Witcher, where he is one of the main characters.
The name Stefan experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the century spanning from 1910 to 2023. The earliest years showed modest numbers of births, with seven or fewer Stevans born annually until 1915 when the count jumped to twelve. This trend continued, with steady increases and decreases throughout the first half of the century.
However, a notable shift occurred in the late 1950s, with a substantial rise in Stefan births beginning in 1956, reaching eighty-seven that year. The following decade saw an even more dramatic increase, peaking at 323 births in 1970. This trend continued into the early 1980s, with peaks of 423 (1985) and 607 (1988).
After reaching its zenith in 1988, the popularity of the name Stefan began to decline steadily throughout the 1990s. By 2000, the number of annual Stefan births had fallen below 400. This downward trend continued into the 2000s and 2010s, with fewer than 300 Stevans born annually since 2007.
In recent years, the popularity of the name has stabilized at around 250 births per year, with no significant increases or decreases observed between 2018 and 2023. Over the entire period from 1910 to 2023, a total of 20,743 Stevans were born.