Stephan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Stephan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Stephan

A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "crown" or "wreath".

Popularity of Stephan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Stephan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Stephan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 114 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Stephan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 114 0
2022 115 0
2021 130 0
2020 153 0
2019 149 0
2018 143 0
2017 142 0
2016 175 0
2015 166 0
2014 160 0
2013 161 0
2012 142 0
2011 165 0
2010 162 0
2009 164 0
2008 161 0
2007 192 0
2006 193 0
2005 199 0
2004 205 0
2003 216 0
2002 228 0
2001 238 0
2000 242 0
1999 295 0
1998 310 0
1997 401 0
1996 371 0
1995 466 8
1994 479 0
1993 425 0
1992 508 5
1991 517 6
1990 570 5
1989 579 0
1988 531 9
1987 566 9
1986 476 8
1985 459 9
1984 401 8
1983 360 5
1982 344 5
1981 304 11
1980 303 0
1979 291 0
1978 294 5
1977 275 0
1976 286 0
1975 282 5
1974 313 14

The history of the first name Stephan

The given name Stephan has its origins in the Greek language, derived from the word "stephanos," meaning "crown" or "wreath." This name traces its roots back to ancient Greece, where it was likely used as a symbol of victory or achievement.

In the early Christian era, Stephan gained significance as the name of the first Christian martyr, Saint Stephen, who was stoned to death for his faith in Jerusalem around 34 AD. His story is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, and his martyrdom played a pivotal role in the spread of Christianity.

Stephan was a popular name among early Christians, and it spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. In England, the name was spelled as Stephen, while in other parts of Europe, variations like Stefan, Stefano, and Esteban were used.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Stephan is in the 11th century, when Stephen IX became Pope in 1057. Another notable figure was Stephen of Blois, a French nobleman and crusader who lived from around 1045 to 1102.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Stephan or its variations. These include Stephen I, the first king of Hungary, who reigned from 1000 to 1038 and played a crucial role in the Christianization of the country.

In the arts, Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist and poet best known for his works, such as "The Red Badge of Courage." Stéphane Mallarmé (1842-1898) was a French poet and a major figure in the Symbolist movement.

In the scientific realm, Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) was a renowned British theoretical physicist and cosmologist, known for his groundbreaking work on black holes and the origins of the universe.

Another notable bearer of the name was Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836), an American empresario and the founder of Anglo-American settlement in Texas, known as the "Father of Texas."

These are just a few examples of the many influential individuals throughout history who have borne the name Stephan or its variations, illustrating its enduring presence across various cultures and fields.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Stephan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Stephan, please contact us.

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"Stephan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/stephan-meaning-and-history/.

"Stephan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/stephan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Stephan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/stephan-meaning-and-history/.

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