István
“crown, crowned”
Hungarian origin · Boy name
#1788US 2023
10Births / yr
→Stable
Top 1.3%Percentile
How to pronounce István
eesht-van
/eesht-van/ · · 1 syllable
“crown, crowned”
Hungarian origin · Boy name
What does István mean and where does it come from?
István is the Hungarian form of Stephen, derived from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning 'crown' or 'garland'.
Cultural significance
István is a common name in Hungary, often associated with Saint Stephen, the first King of Hungary.
Peak popularity
Reached #1788 in 2015 — currently #1788 in the US.
How else can you spell István?
Same sound, different look — useful if you want something slightly more distinctive
What middle names flow best with István?
István works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful
István Jack
One syllable · timeless choice
István John
One syllable · timeless choice
István Luke
One syllable · timeless choice
István Miles
One syllable · vintage charm
István Beau
One syllable · on the rise
István Brooks
One syllable · timeless choice
How popular is István right now?
Holding steady — currently #1788 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names
István is exceptionally rare — it does not appear in US Social Security records, meaning fewer than 5 babies per year have received this name.
What are good nicknames for István?
CROATIAN
StevoStipeStipo
DUTCH
Stef
ENGLISH
SteStephSteveStevie
FINNISH
Teppo
Famous people named István
IS
István Széchenyi
A Hungarian statesman and reformer known as 'the Greatest Hungarian'.
IB
István Bujtor
A Hungarian actor and film director known for his work in Hungarian cinema.
IK
István Kertész
A Hungarian conductor renowned for his interpretations of classical music.
IM
István Máté
A Hungarian wildlife photographer and author known for his nature photography.
IT
István Tisza
A Hungarian politician who served as Prime Minister in the early 20th century.
What names sound and feel like István?
Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love István also consider these
How is István written in other languages?
What are the girl versions of István?
Štefa CROATIANŠtefanija CROATIANŠtefica CROATIANŠtěpánka CZECHStefanie DANISHStefana DUTCHStefanie DUTCHStefani ENGLISHSteph ENGLISHStephani ENGLISHStephania ENGLISHStephanie ENGLISHStephany ENGLISHStevie ENGLISHÉtiennette FRENCHFanny FRENCHStéphanie FRENCHStefanie GERMANSteffi GERMANSteffie GERMANStephanie GERMANKekepania HAWAIIANFanni HUNGARIANStefánia HUNGARIANStefania ITALIANStefanija MACEDONIANStefania POLISHStefcia POLISHEstefânia PORTUGUESEȘtefania ROMANIANŠtefánia SLOVAKŠtefanija SLOVENEEstefanía SPANISH
Common questions about the name István
What does the name István mean?
István means "crown, crowned" — a name rooted in Hungarian tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name István?
István is currently a distinctive and less common name as a baby name in the US and is holding steady in popularity, a reliable classic that parents consistently choose.
What is the cultural origin of István?
István originates from Hungarian tradition. Hungarian names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How does István sound with different last names?
As a one-syllable name, István flows best with last names of two or three syllables. Avoid last names ending in the same sound as István ends, as this can create an unwanted rhyme. Test by saying the full name out loud several times.
Is István more of a girl or boy name?
István is primarily used as a boy name, giving it a clear, timeless character while remaining accessible to modern families.
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