Fun Facts About the Name Stella
- Back among the favorites: Stella returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 16 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 207 thousand babies named Stella: U.S. records list 207,261 babies given the name Stella from 1880 through 2025. Even 382 boys received the name Stella - about 1 boy for every 542 girls.
What Does the Name Stella Mean?
Stella is a feminine given name that means star in Latin. It comes directly from the Latin noun stella, meaning star, a word related to Greek astēr and English star through an ancient Indo-European root. The name has no smaller name components; its meaning is the ordinary Latin word for a star. In Christian tradition, the phrase stella maris, or star of the sea, became a title for the Virgin Mary, and that devotional use is sometimes attached to the name, but the name's literal sense remains star. Estella and Estelle are related names from the same Latin source, though each has its own history in French and other languages.
Stella Name History & Origins
Stella comes from the Latin noun stella, meaning star. In Italy and other parts of Europe, it has long been used as a feminine given name. In English, the name appears in literary works of the late 16th century; Sir Philip Sidney's sonnet sequence Astrophil and Stella, published in 1591, uses Stella as the name of the poet's beloved. That is a famous literary appearance, not the name's origin. In the early 18th century, Jonathan Swift addressed his Journal to Stella to Esther Johnson, using Stella as a private name for her. These works helped keep the name in English literary use.
In Roman Catholic contexts, Stella is associated with the Marian title Stella Maris, meaning star of the sea. The name is not a shortened form of Estelle or Estella; rather, all three draw on the Latin word for star, with Estelle and Estella entering English largely through French. Stella remains a given name in English-speaking countries and in Europe.
How Popular is the Name Stella?
Stella ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1923, then returned in 2010 and remained through 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #52 | 4,136 | 0.2573% |
| 2024 | #49 | 4,264 | 0.2643% |
| 2023 | #46 | 4,366 | 0.2724% |
| 2022 | #40 | 4,845 | 0.2957% |
| 2021 | #41 | 4,818 | 0.2938% |
| 2020 | #42 | 4,667 | 0.2889% |
| 2019 | #40 | 4,994 | 0.2977% |
| 2018 | #38 | 5,163 | 0.3036% |
| 2017 | #42 | 5,069 | 0.2937% |
| 2016 | #45 | 4,933 | 0.2785% |
| 2015 | #51 | 4,798 | 0.2688% |
| 2014 | #66 | 4,202 | 0.2353% |
| 2013 | #70 | 3,916 | 0.2232% |
| 2012 | #62 | 4,006 | 0.2275% |
| 2011 | #74 | 3,698 | 0.2103% |
| 2010 | #85 | 3,440 | 0.1935% |
| 2009 | #126 | 2,560 | 0.1394% |
| 2008 | #184 | 1,824 | 0.0965% |
| 2007 | #243 | 1,463 | 0.0761% |
| 2006 | #242 | 1,413 | 0.0743% |
| 2005 | #250 | 1,308 | 0.0708% |
| 2004 | #291 | 1,123 | 0.0612% |
| 2003 | #380 | 797 | 0.0436% |
| 2002 | #499 | 556 | 0.0309% |
| 2001 | #598 | 422 | 0.0234% |
| 2000 | #656 | 376 | 0.0207% |
| 1999 | #725 | 312 | 0.0176% |
| 1998 | #909 | 233 | 0.0132% |
| 1997 | #1,017 | 190 | 0.0109% |
| 1996 | #1,208 | 149 | 0.0085% |
| 1995 | #1,328 | 125 | 0.0071% |
| 1994 | #1,303 | 131 | 0.0073% |
| 1993 | #1,088 | 167 | 0.0092% |
| 1992 | #1,075 | 169 | 0.0092% |
| 1991 | #1,161 | 152 | 0.0081% |
| 1990 | #1,051 | 171 | 0.0090% |
| 1989 | #1,018 | 169 | 0.0092% |
| 1988 | #1,047 | 154 | 0.0086% |
| 1987 | #965 | 166 | 0.0095% |
| 1986 | #1,013 | 152 | 0.0089% |
| 1985 | #996 | 154 | 0.0089% |
| 1984 | #829 | 190 | 0.0113% |
| 1983 | #769 | 208 | 0.0125% |
| 1982 | #753 | 221 | 0.0131% |
| 1981 | #731 | 227 | 0.0136% |
| 1980 | #732 | 228 | 0.0137% |
| 1979 | #751 | 216 | 0.0135% |
| 1978 | #662 | 243 | 0.0159% |
| 1977 | #670 | 235 | 0.0153% |
| 1976 | #731 | 202 | 0.0138% |
| 1975 | #628 | 251 | 0.0172% |
| 1974 | #624 | 250 | 0.0170% |
| 1973 | #644 | 234 | 0.0160% |
| 1972 | #577 | 285 | 0.0187% |
| 1971 | #584 | 299 | 0.0180% |
| 1970 | #543 | 347 | 0.0198% |
| 1969 | #553 | 320 | 0.0190% |
| 1968 | #513 | 356 | 0.0217% |
| 1967 | #467 | 411 | 0.0249% |
| 1966 | #456 | 429 | 0.0254% |
| 1965 | #411 | 511 | 0.0289% |
| 1964 | #412 | 561 | 0.0296% |
| 1963 | #415 | 541 | 0.0281% |
| 1962 | #380 | 614 | 0.0312% |
| 1961 | #394 | 597 | 0.0296% |
| 1960 | #383 | 617 | 0.0305% |
| 1959 | #378 | 639 | 0.0316% |
| 1958 | #353 | 683 | 0.0340% |
| 1957 | #338 | 731 | 0.0357% |
| 1956 | #316 | 766 | 0.0382% |
| 1955 | #305 | 794 | 0.0406% |
| 1954 | #292 | 852 | 0.0439% |
| 1953 | #263 | 956 | 0.0508% |
| 1952 | #248 | 996 | 0.0537% |
| 1951 | #240 | 1,060 | 0.0589% |
| 1950 | #226 | 1,113 | 0.0650% |
| 1949 | #215 | 1,220 | 0.0713% |
| 1948 | #201 | 1,344 | 0.0792% |
| 1947 | #200 | 1,334 | 0.0753% |
| 1946 | #209 | 1,162 | 0.0740% |
| 1945 | #198 | 993 | 0.0760% |
| 1944 | #198 | 1,017 | 0.0766% |
| 1943 | #188 | 1,182 | 0.0847% |
| 1942 | #188 | 1,126 | 0.0834% |
| 1941 | #184 | 1,023 | 0.0847% |
| 1940 | #192 | 962 | 0.0841% |
| 1939 | #188 | 954 | 0.0870% |
| 1938 | #200 | 877 | 0.0795% |
| 1937 | #195 | 916 | 0.0861% |
| 1936 | #186 | 967 | 0.0929% |
| 1935 | #187 | 945 | 0.0901% |
| 1934 | #169 | 1,095 | 0.1049% |
| 1933 | #164 | 1,123 | 0.1114% |
| 1932 | #150 | 1,340 | 0.1256% |
| 1931 | #142 | 1,419 | 0.1333% |
| 1930 | #140 | 1,570 | 0.1394% |
| 1929 | #137 | 1,690 | 0.1514% |
| 1928 | #132 | 1,803 | 0.1563% |
| 1927 | #123 | 2,112 | 0.1771% |
| 1926 | #121 | 2,191 | 0.1848% |
| 1925 | #114 | 2,402 | 0.1973% |
| 1924 | #105 | 2,752 | 0.2204% |
| 1923 | #96 | 2,956 | 0.2450% |
| 1922 | #88 | 3,166 | 0.2636% |
| 1921 | #86 | 3,335 | 0.2705% |
| 1920 | #82 | 3,492 | 0.2914% |
| 1919 | #70 | 3,700 | 0.3274% |
| 1918 | #67 | 3,928 | 0.3393% |
| 1917 | #62 | 3,872 | 0.3581% |
| 1916 | #63 | 3,818 | 0.3656% |
| 1915 | #64 | 3,657 | 0.3717% |
| 1914 | #65 | 2,771 | 0.3638% |
| 1913 | #69 | 2,205 | 0.3531% |
| 1912 | #73 | 1,834 | 0.3286% |
| 1911 | #72 | 1,422 | 0.3399% |
| 1910 | #72 | 1,319 | 0.3327% |
| 1909 | #70 | 1,188 | 0.3421% |
| 1908 | #67 | 1,216 | 0.3637% |
| 1907 | #70 | 1,150 | 0.3610% |
| 1906 | #65 | 1,141 | 0.3864% |
| 1905 | #67 | 1,097 | 0.3762% |
| 1904 | #68 | 1,026 | 0.3726% |
| 1903 | #65 | 1,016 | 0.3878% |
| 1902 | #63 | 1,075 | 0.4071% |
| 1901 | #65 | 928 | 0.3877% |
| 1900 | #68 | 1,177 | 0.3926% |
| 1899 | #62 | 975 | 0.4184% |
| 1898 | #65 | 1,062 | 0.4104% |
| 1897 | #64 | 966 | 0.4125% |
| 1896 | #60 | 1,054 | 0.4430% |
| 1895 | #60 | 1,026 | 0.4392% |
| 1894 | #61 | 1,035 | 0.4643% |
| 1893 | #63 | 926 | 0.4349% |
| 1892 | #59 | 972 | 0.4578% |
| 1891 | #59 | 867 | 0.4674% |
| 1890 | #56 | 924 | 0.4854% |
| 1889 | #55 | 891 | 0.4995% |
| 1888 | #64 | 775 | 0.4339% |
| 1887 | #59 | 664 | 0.4549% |
| 1886 | #57 | 702 | 0.4857% |
| 1885 | #57 | 649 | 0.4878% |
| 1884 | #60 | 584 | 0.4526% |
| 1883 | #59 | 529 | 0.4710% |
| 1882 | #61 | 506 | 0.4692% |
| 1881 | #64 | 416 | 0.4524% |
| 1880 | #60 | 414 | 0.4550% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #13,781 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #10,474 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #11,917 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #10,607 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #12,066 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #10,599 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #6,734 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,505 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #3,943 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #2,981 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #4,205 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1942 | #3,185 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,077 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1938 | #2,629 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #3,144 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #3,115 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #2,691 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #2,543 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1933 | #3,248 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #2,819 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1931 | #2,848 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #3,260 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #3,519 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #3,325 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #2,683 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #2,416 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1925 | #3,124 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1924 | #4,286 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #3,147 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1922 | #3,218 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1921 | #3,185 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1920 | #2,440 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1919 | #3,355 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #3,336 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1917 | #3,175 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1916 | #2,517 | 11 | 0.0012% |
| 1914 | #3,222 | 6 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #2,072 | 9 | 0.0018% |
| 1912 | #1,728 | 10 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #1,260 | 7 | 0.0043% |
| 1908 | #1,356 | 6 | 0.0039% |
| 1907 | #1,327 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1904 | #1,380 | 5 | 0.0039% |
| 1903 | #1,288 | 5 | 0.0042% |
| 1901 | #1,046 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1900 | #1,288 | 6 | 0.0040% |
| 1897 | #1,211 | 5 | 0.0044% |
| 1896 | #1,254 | 5 | 0.0042% |
| 1893 | #1,018 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1891 | #1,108 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1890 | #1,145 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1885 | #1,084 | 5 | 0.0046% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Stella
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Stella Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Stella's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Stella's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.