Istvan is a Hungarian male given name of Latin origin. It is derived from the Late Latin name Stefanus, which itself comes from the Greek name Stephanos. The meaning of Istvan is "crown" or "garland", and it was often used in the Eastern Roman Empire to denote royalty.
The name Istvan has been popular in Hungary for centuries. According to Hungarian history, the first recorded use of the name Istvan was by King Stephen I (also known as Saint Stephen), who ruled Hungary from 1000 until his death in 1038. He is credited with converting the Hungarians to Christianity and establishing the Kingdom of Hungary. As a result of his significant role in Hungarian history, the name Istvan became associated with royalty and has been widely used among the nobility throughout the centuries.
Today, Istvan remains a popular choice for boys' names in Hungary. It is also found in other countries where there are Hungarian communities, such as Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia. While it may not be as well-known internationally as some other names, Istvan holds deep historical significance and cultural relevance in Hungary.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Istvan has had a relatively consistent presence among newborns in the United States over several decades, with fluctuations in popularity.
The first recorded birth of a child named Istvan in the U.S. was in 1962, with five such births that year. The following year saw an increase to seven births. After a gap of six years without any recorded births of the name Istvan, there were five births in 1968 and another five in 1969.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Istvan. Between 1997 and 2009, there were nine years with at least one recorded birth of the name Istvan, totaling 56 births over that period.
Notably, 2000 was the year with the highest number of births for the name Istvan in the U.S., with eight newborns sharing the name. This peak in popularity was short-lived, as there were no recorded births of the name Istvan between 2010 and 2016.
Overall, since 1962, there have been a total of 81 births of children named Istvan in the United States. Despite its relative rarity compared to more popular names, Istvan has maintained a steady, if fluctuating, presence among newborns over several decades.