Stella Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Stella

Stella Name Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: stell-ah
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Stella Name Meaning

A Latin name meaning “celestial star,” Stella has been making her rounds on the baby name scene since the 19th century. Her popularity did dim a bit from the 1940s until she came to light again in the early 2000s. A celebrity baby name fave, her shine has been growing ever since.

Stella can be seen as an out-of-the-box alternate to the ultra popular Bella and Ella, as well as a subtle nature name thanks to her meaning. While she’s similar to a lot of today’s mega-hit names, she’s fun and fresh in her own right, ushering in otherworldly style with ease like her sister Luna. She also manages to mix and mingle with modern names without feeling dusty despite her vintage roots.

While Stella is feminine and delicate, she’s also mature, avoiding the cutesy feel of some female monikers. She’d be right at home in a boardroom or art studio alike, her name never hindering her from being taken seriously. Best of all, Stella won’t have to fuss with tricky spellings or pronunciations. She’s short, sweet, and to the point, shining brightly from the page.

Longer names leading to the nickname Stella include Estella and Estelle. Some other celestial names are Starla, Nova, and Twyla.

Stella Name Popularity

How popular is the name Stella? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	72	1,289	0.3661%
1911	72	1,404	0.377%
1912	73	1,822	0.3613%
1913	69	2,191	0.3864%
1914	65	2,762	0.3963%
1915	64	3,650	0.4017%
1916	63	3,812	0.3946%
1917	62	3,867	0.3865%
1918	67	3,924	0.3656%
1919	70	3,696	0.353%
1920	82	3,483	0.3133%
1921	86	3,331	0.2909%
1922	89	3,150	0.2827%
1923	96	2,950	0.2634%
1924	105	2,741	0.236%
1925	114	2,386	0.2111%
1926	121	2,181	0.1983%
1927	123	2,089	0.1887%
1928	130	1,792	0.1675%
1929	136	1,673	0.1615%
1930	140	1,558	0.1492%
1931	143	1,397	0.1415%
1932	150	1,321	0.1337%
1933	164	1,089	0.1169%
1934	170	1,066	0.1103%
1935	188	900	0.0926%
1936	186	938	0.0974%
1937	195	879	0.0892%
1938	200	848	0.0828%
1939	188	918	0.0902%
1940	192	925	0.087%
1941	185	984	0.0874%
1942	188	1,103	0.0873%
1943	188	1,153	0.0883%
1944	195	996	0.0804%
1945	198	962	0.0789%
1946	210	1,122	0.076%
1947	200	1,313	0.0787%
1948	202	1,311	0.0821%
1949	216	1,188	0.0739%
1950	225	1,084	0.0673%
1951	239	1,026	0.0605%
1952	248	980	0.0561%
1953	263	926	0.0523%
1954	293	814	0.0445%
1955	306	758	0.0412%
1956	320	723	0.0383%
1957	338	686	0.0356%
1958	351	644	0.0341%
1959	377	602	0.0317%
1960	384	574	0.0303%
1961	391	567	0.03%
1962	375	587	0.032%
1963	411	508	0.0283%
1964	413	512	0.0291%
1965	407	481	0.0294%
1966	450	397	0.0254%
1967	465	374	0.0246%
1968	514	309	0.0206%
1969	548	282	0.0183%
1970	534	310	0.0195%
1971	591	245	0.0163%
1972	575	235	0.0173%
1973	632	193	0.0149%
1974	633	195	0.015%
1975	657	183	0.0142%
1976	706	157	0.0122%
1977	671	185	0.0137%
1978	661	195	0.0145%
1979	804	143	0.0101%
1980	741	172	0.0118%
1981	744	167	0.0114%
1982	778	158	0.0106%
1983	801	141	0.0096%
1984	829	136	0.0091%
1985	1,161	73	0.0048%
1986	1,049	92	0.0061%
1987	1,015	101	0.0066%
1988	1,049	100	0.0064%
1989	1,010	122	0.0076%
1990	1,078	115	0.0069%
1991	1,192	96	0.0059%
1992	1,081	119	0.0075%
1993	1,117	109	0.007%
1994	1,361	72	0.0047%
1995	1,328	74	0.0049%
1996	1,222	91	0.0061%
1997	1,045	128	0.0087%
1998	934	171	0.0114%
1999	742	253	0.0169%
2000	648	340	0.0223%
2001	598	375	0.0249%
2002	493	518	0.0346%
2003	385	757	0.0498%
2004	292	1,097	0.072%
2005	248	1,289	0.0843%
2006	239	1,398	0.0893%
2007	243	1,435	0.091%
2008	183	1,810	0.1171%
2009	125	2,552	0.1707%
2010	85	3,439	0.2386%
2011	74	3,690	0.259%
2012	62	3,994	0.2803%
2013	70	3,908	0.2745%
2014	66	4,191	0.2877%
2015	51	4,789	0.3291%
2016	45	4,925	0.3416%
2017	42	5,038	0.361%
2018	38	5,121	0.3727%
2019	39	4,965	0.3668%
2020	42	4,531	0.356%
2021	41	4,439	0.3631%
2022	40	4,830	0.3661%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Stella

If you like Stella, you’ll love these other names like Stella.

What names are diminutives of Stella?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Stella sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Stella, but shorter.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Stelle	Star	Latin

What names are variants of Stella?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Stella.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Estella	Star-like; love	Spanish
Estelle	Star	Latin
Estrella	Star-like; love	Spanish
Stela	Star	Latin

What names sound like Stella?

If you like how Stella sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Stella.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Bella	Beautiful one	Italian
Ella	Other goddess	Hebrew
Sadella	Princess	Hebrew
Sydella

What names are similar to Stella?

Find a name that’s like Stella, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Asta	Star-like; love	Scandinavian
Ava	To live	Latin
Chloe	Green sprout	Greek
Gemma	Precious stone	Italian
Hailey	Hay meadow	English

Nova	New	Latin
Reese	Enthusiasm	Welsh
Sadie	Princess	Hebrew
Skye	Isle of Skye	English
Starla	Star	Persian

Lists With Stella

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Stella.

Siblings of Stella

Mamas with kids named Stella also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Karlee	Free man	Latin
Khloe	Green sprout	Greek
Maxwell	Mack's stream	English
Finn	Fair	Irish
Pearl	Pearl	Latin
Arthur	Bear	Celtic
Aisley	Dwells at the ash tree meadow	Anglo-Saxon
Layne	Path, roadway	English
Zelie
Leo	Lion	Latin

Share Your Thoughts

43 Comments

Chloe Dec 7 at 8:01 am

We picked Stella in part because my mother-in-law suggested it and it would be pronounced the same for Danish and English speakers (my husband is Danish). But what really sold it to us was that to me, Stella sounds like a girl (and eventually a woman) who is confident, creative, daring, and persistent. Stella (in my mind) knows who she is.

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Lori Mar 10 at 10:48 am

A perfect angel

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Amanda Mar 8 at 8:46 am

My husbands grandmothers name. So pretty and uncommon these days.

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Kendyl Jul 8 at 4:57 pm

Stella is my great grandmothers name. Her name means Star and her middle name is Houston which means a settlement on a hill. Her name is special to us as it reminds us of a verse in the Bible about Christ followers being a light – like a city on a hill. We believe this girl is going to shine the biggest light and be a world changer!

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Stella Jul 6 at 12:11 pm

Ive always thought my name was unusual or weird but growing up Ive loved my name! ( Stella )

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- Alianna Nov 7 at 3:22 pm
  
  I love the name stella! One of my bestie’s name is Stella Maggiore and she is the best!!! I think that the name stella is AMAZING!!!!!
  
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Sarah Jan 10 at 3:00 am

I had a dream with the babys name Stella a few weeks prior to me finding out what I was having, that’s why I named her Stella Rose Montgomery.

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Jessica Oct 15 at 11:56 am

Great grandma’s name

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Russ Aug 8 at 6:13 am

I feel this name is a classic and I don’t actually know anyone personally with this name.
I also feel it’s a powerful name, like a Queen or of great stature and royalty.

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Sarina Jun 1 at 6:32 pm

Family name. My great aunt was named Stella.

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aurora May 21 at 4:36 pm

Sadie is a dogs name. No way any Sadie I’ve known could be a princess. lol

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Shelby Jan 5 at 11:23 pm

I love that it’s an old fashioned name. You also don’t hear Stella very often.

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Russ Dec 16 at 8:47 am

I’m not sure why I chose Stella other than both of her names coming to me in a dream. Stella is unique and a modern old fashioned name.

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Lindsey Dec 14 at 6:15 pm

It’s a strong name and not as trendy as most of the current popular names. We wanted to name her Charlie/Charlotte for many years, but since that name has since gained SO much popularity, we decided we’d rather have her be the one Stella in her class(es), than one of the several Charlie/Charlotte’s.

Our nurses in the hospital helped us name her as well. They were older, wiser, wonderful nurses who loved the name and said it suited her. We now completely agree.

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Alison Dec 7 at 9:05 pm

It sounds very strong

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Stella Aug 8 at 8:12 am

I love my name “Stella”. Am not just a star but a star that shines brighter and brighter each passing day

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- Stella Harrison Mar 20 at 12:09 pm
  
  periode pooh
  
  Reply
Meg Jul 5 at 10:46 am

We both just loved it

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Lena Apr 24 at 9:16 am

Named after her great grandmother

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Agatha Apr 8 at 1:32 pm

I’ve always liked the name Stella since I was a young girl. It isn’t super common. My husband also likes it and it goes well with his last name 🙂

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Tania Mar 21 at 1:20 pm

My husband loves my maiden name which means Star in Spanish. Stella means star in Italian, it’s also the name of one of my favorite beers but we won’t tell baby that! 🙂

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stella Clement Mar 21 at 1:09 pm

am stella and I love the name,I wish to become a star ?

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stella Mar 21 at 1:05 pm

am stella,I will love to be a star ?

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Kelsey Aug 1 at 1:44 pm

Goes with most middle an last names an it’s adorable for a girl

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Jenalee Jun 29 at 8:14 pm

We just liked it

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Gohnou Apr 8 at 8:52 pm

My husband loved the name and I love stella rose (wine).

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Jackie Mar 28 at 8:02 am

Both my husband and I had a great-grandmother named Stella, so we were able to honor both of our families. Stella is a more old-school name that flows and is not overly common. She is our first baby, so she lives up to the meaning of her name, which is star.

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Jillian R Shelby Mar 24 at 4:51 pm

My daughter named my grandbaby Stella Rena..she is a week old tomorrow…she is definitely a stella

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- Abby Blossom Gentry Mar 6 at 7:41 am
  
  Pretty name! How old is the grandbaby if you don’t mind me asking?
  
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Stella Rhynes Mar 20 at 9:06 am

My name is Stella and love the thought of being a star!

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Amanda Canfield Mar 16 at 9:07 am

My 13 year old named her Stella Belle

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Stephanie Mar 16 at 7:37 am

We chose Stella because it was close to a family name Ella but started with an S, same as mommy. Also I loved that the Latin translation meant “Star“. <3

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Samantha Jan 14 at 11:04 am

We liked that it’s an older name that you don’t hear very often anymore. I remember reading “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams and thinking that would be a great baby name, luckily my husband agreed!

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Samantha Dec 15 at 1:39 pm

Stella is very elegant and not common name.

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Karmen Nov 23 at 1:34 pm

The reason I picked stella was because it an old name and you don’t really hear Stella anymore, and I thought I could bring it back, and it fits my stella perfect.

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Anna Krestyn Heschmeyer Nov 8 at 2:46 pm

We named our baby Stella Maris, which in Latin means “star of the sea” and is a title given to Mary, Mother of God. As Catholics, we wanted to name her after her mother in heaven.

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Laura Sep 9 at 5:14 am

We thought of this name early on and it just stuck! It’s a name that can grow with her and unique but not unheard of. Sweet just like our baby girl! ?

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Stella Jul 26 at 9:18 pm

I think it’s cool that I’m a Stella but my name is stellar but still it has Stella in stellar!I love my name
?

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Anahi stella Jul 26 at 5:17 am

Both names are from the Bible. Also my daughter who is 8yrs old choose it.

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Jade Jul 7 at 9:38 am

We wanted a name that meant “peace.” Stella is a feminized version of the Swedish name “Stellan,” which means peaceful and calm.

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Megan Jun 8 at 4:14 pm

I love the strength the name gives my now 12 year old daughter. It was very uncommon when I picked it but now it’s used more. My Stella is smart and sassy but most of all fun!

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Amy Apr 26 at 9:34 am

Stella is a version of my maiden name Stellini. It means Star in Italian so it’s cute, magical and scientific! I hope it inspires her to dream big and be curious about the universe.

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Alisha Apr 13 at 4:40 pm

I absolutely adore my daughter’s name. Stella Grace. It’s a pretty name and not too common.

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Stella