Stella
Stella is a girls' name of Latin origin meaning “star.” It ranked #52 in the United States in 2025. Stella is Latin for 'star,' first used as a name by Sir Philip Sidney for his sonnet sequence 'Astrophel and Stella.'
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how do you pronounce Stella?
STEL-ah
where does the name Stella come from?
The Latin word for star, taken directly as a name. It also underlies the Marian title Stella Maris, star of the sea, which was applied to the Virgin Mary from the early medieval period and used by sailors as an image of guidance.
Tennessee Williams's 'A Streetcar Named Desire' cemented its dramatic allure. It has been a steady top-40 name.
how popular is this name?
Stella has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 135 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 11. It peaked at #38 in 2018, and ranked #52 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #52 |
| 2024 | #49 |
| 2023 | #46 |
| 2022 | #40 |
| 2021 | #41 |
| 2020 | #42 |
| 2019 | #40 |
| 2018 | #38 |
| 2017 | #42 |
| 2016 | #45 |
| 2010 | #85 |
| 2000 | #656 |
| 1980 | #730 |
| 1970 | #543 |
| 1960 | #383 |
| 1950 | #226 |
| 1940 | #192 |
| 1930 | #140 |
| 1920 | #82 |
| 1910 | #72 |
| 1900 | #68 |
| 1890 | #56 |
| 1880 | #60 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Stella fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Stella
Sir Philip Sidney appears to have introduced Stella to English in the 1580s in Astrophil and Stella, and Jonathan Swift later used it as his private name for Esther Johnson. Tennessee Williams gave it a very different register in A Streetcar Named Desire. The name climbed back through the 2000s and reached the American top fifty in the 2020s.
who are famous people named Stella?
- Stella McCartney (British fashion designer)
- Stella (A Streetcar Named Desire character)
- Stella Artois (Belgian beer brand)
what are the nicknames and variants of Stella?
Nicknames
what names are similar to Stella?
what names go well with Stella?
Sibling names that share Stella's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Stella
What does the name Stella mean?
Stella means “star”.
What is the origin of the name Stella?
Stella comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Estelle, Estella and Stelle.
How popular is the name Stella?
Stella ranked #52 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2018, at #38, and it has spent 135 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Stella a boy or girl name?
Stella is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Stella?
Stella is pronounced STEL-ah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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