stef

Stef is a given name commonly used as a diminutive of Stefan or Stephan in Dutch, Flemish, and German-speaking communities. It derives from the Greek Stephanos, meaning crown or garland, a name made familiar in Christian Europe by Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The form is typically pronounced stef.

In Dutch and German contexts, Stef is often an independent masculine given name rather than merely a nickname. In other language areas, it can function as a nickname for Stefanie or Stephanie, and it is sometimes adopted as a stage name or informal variant of longer names. The spelling Stef is common in Dutch- and German-speaking regions, while Steff is a regional variant found in some locales.

Related forms across languages include Stefan, Stephan, Stefano, Stéphane, and the feminine Stephanie/Stefanie. The name appears worldwide, especially in regions with Dutch, Belgian, or German heritage, where it is recognized as a concise, familiar form of longer names. As a personal name, Stef carries no fixed meaning beyond its etymological link to crown or garland and its cultural usage as a short form or standalone given name.