Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Stefan” come from?

Stefan derives from Ancient Greek στεφανίζω, meaning to crown or wreathe, through the related noun στέφανος (stephanos), which came to be used as a personal name.

Ancestry of “Stefan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekστεφανίζωto crown
2Ancient GreekΣτέφανος—
3Ancient GreekστέφωI put around; I encircle, crown, wreath, garland
4Proto-Hellenicstékʷʰō—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstegʷʰ-to enlace
Every word from Proto-Indo-European stegʷʰ- →