Sterling
Sterling is a unisex name of English origin meaning “starling.” It ranked #345 in the United States in 2025. Sterling comes from the Old English stærling, the starling, with Starling and Stirling as variant forms.
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how do you pronounce Sterling?
STER-ling
where does the name Sterling come from?
From the Old English stærling, starling; Starling and Stirling are variant forms.
The word sterling, for English silver of standard purity, gives the name connotations of excellence and reliability.
how popular is this name?
Sterling has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #305 in 1895, and ranked #345 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #345 |
| 2024 | #370 |
| 2023 | #403 |
| 2022 | #397 |
| 2021 | #382 |
| 2020 | #399 |
| 2019 | #410 |
| 2018 | #409 |
| 2017 | #433 |
| 2016 | #458 |
| 2010 | #755 |
| 2000 | #567 |
| 1990 | #463 |
| 1980 | #548 |
| 1970 | #546 |
| 1960 | #515 |
| 1950 | #421 |
| 1940 | #402 |
| 1930 | #402 |
| 1920 | #373 |
| 1910 | #383 |
| 1900 | #354 |
| 1895 | #305 |
| 1890 | #489 |
| 1880 | #425 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Sterling fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Sterling?
- Sterling K. Brown (actor)
- Sterling Archer (fictional character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Sterling?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Sterling?
what names go well with Sterling?
Sibling names that share Sterling's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Sterling
What does the name Sterling mean?
Sterling means “starling”.
What is the origin of the name Sterling?
Sterling comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Starling and Stirling.
How popular is the name Sterling?
Sterling ranked #345 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1895, at #305, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Sterling a boy or girl name?
Sterling is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Sterling?
Sterling is pronounced STER-ling, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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