Sibling Names: The Ultimate Guide

Top Baby Names 2024 Revealed!

Top Baby Names 2025: The Playground Analysis

Celestial Baby Names: 20 Names That Mean Star

Names Inspired by Tarot Cards

Two-Letter Baby Names: Bo,Ty and Vi

Day and Night Names Shine All The Time

Sister Names Share Style

Night Names are Heavenly

Film Noir Names

15 Stellar Astronomy Baby Names

Best Z Names for Girls

Twin Names: The Ultimate Guide

Mardi Gras Names: Let The Good Times Roll!

Double-Barrel Names: US vs. UK

The Baby Names That Should Be on Everyone's List

What would you choose?

Sister for Lucy

Similar to Stella & Nina

Conflicted on my name choice— Shepherd

Sister name for Leo- Help!

Stella

The name Stella peaked for boys at #1018 in 1893. Stella is also used for girls, ranking #52 in 2025.

The name Stella is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "star".

Latin Names

Latin Names for Girls

6 Letter Girl Names

Names Ending in A for Girls

Names That Mean Star

Names that Peaked in 2018

Two Syllable Names for Girls

Girl Dog Names That Start With S

Girl Cat Names That Start With S

Dog Names That Start With S

Cat Names That Start With S

Names ending in ella

Latin Names that Start With S

Stella is a name with star quality and sparkle, that manages to sound both ethereal and earthy. Celestial but not otherworldly, it lands somewhere between the popular Ella and bold Seraphina. 
 
The name Stella was derived from stella, the Latin word for "star". It was coined by the poet, Sir Philip Sidney who used it in his 1590 sonnet collection, Astrophel and Stella, which translates literally to "the star lover and his star." 
 
While Astrophel has remained obscure, Stella came into common usage in the 1800s. Inspired perhaps by its similarity to Ella and Esther, and by its association with the Virgin Mary, from her Catholic title, Stella Maris, it was popular in the early decades of the 20th century.
 
After fading in the 70s, Stella is now back and brighter than ever. Following on the heels of Gabriella and Isabella, it ranks in the US Top 50 and is given to almost 5000 babies each year. With equally astronomical Luna now making the Top 10, Stella might rise even higher.
 
Stella holds international appeal too and has taken shining spots on the charts in Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Italy, and France. 
 
The name Stella was famously bellowed by Marlon Brando in Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, and it has proved a popular choice among celebrities, including Matt Damon, Ellen Pompeo, Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, and Gena Lee Nolin. 
 
Designer and animal rights activist Stella McCartney is another notable namesake, as is Stella Adler, an influential acting teacher. 
 
If Stella is shining for you but it’s not quite the brightest star on your list, then you could consider its variants, the literary Estella, or the French Estelle. Alternatively, you might like another starry name, such as Astraea, Seren, or Izara, or something just equally celestial, like Elara, Celia, or Celeste.

Old-Fashioned Girl Names

Christmas Names for Pets

Stylish L Baby Names

Top 2020s Baby Names

Names Girls Love Having

Best Two Syllable Names

Trending Dog Names

Vintage Girl Names

Witchy Names

Vintage Baby Names

Witchy Cat Names

Top Girl Names 2021

Classic Girl Names 

Top 2010s Names

Nameberry's Top Girl Names of the 2010s

Coolated Girls' Names

Names Created by Authors

Film Noir Baby Names

Top Names for Cats

Space Baby Names

Popular Baby Names 2017

Time of Day Names

December Baby Names

Cat Names

Chicken Names

English Names with International Style

Husky Names

Victorian Names from the 1800s

White Dog Names

Christmas Names

Cool Cat Names

Old-Fashioned Names

Science and Technology Names

Trending Girl Names

Beagle Names

Italian Last Names

Great Dane Names

Girl Names That Peaked in 2018

Feminine Girl Names

Cool Dog Names

Classic Celebrity Baby Names

Designer Baby Names

Doberman Names

Yorkie Names

Best Two Syllable Girl Names

Telegraph Baby Names 

French Bulldog Names

Dog Names

Fairy and Elf Names

Trendy Celebrity Baby Names

Big Dog Names

Disney Channel Baby Names

Top 100 Girl Names 2024

Science Cat Names

Stellar Names That Mean Star

Poetic Baby Names

Names from Theater

Winter Names

Names That Mean Hope

Latin

Nameberry

Canada

Future

England

Scotland

Australia

New Zealand

Germany

Netherlands

Sweden

Finland

Iceland

Belgium

Switzerland

Poland

Slovenia

Dogs

Cats

The name Stella is currently ranked #52 in U.S. births. and peaked for girls at #38 in 2018. The name is most popular in STELLA, STELLA, and STELLA. Stella is occasionally used for boys in 2020.

Asta

Stella

About Stella

Popularity & trends

Stella in blog posts

Community discussions

Advanced Search

Save Stella

The Nameberry App is live

Year	US rank	Births	Per million
2014	—	0	0
2015	—	0	0
2016	—	0	0
2017	—	0	0
2018	—	0	0
2019	—	0	0
2020	—	0	0
2021	—	0	0
2022	—	0	0
2023	—	0	0
2024	—	0	0
2025	—	0	0