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.

Infographic of Stella name meaning, which is From Latin origins, Stella means celestial star.
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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 Popularity Other Gender
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 Popularity Other Gender
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 Popularity Other Gender
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 Popularity Other Gender
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

42 Comments

  1. A perfect angel

    Reply

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

    Reply

  3. 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!

    Reply

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

    Reply

    • 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!!!!!

      Reply

  5. 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.

    Reply

  6. Great grandma’s name

    Reply

  7. 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.

    Reply

  8. Family name. My great aunt was named Stella.

    Reply

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

  11. 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.

    Reply

  12. 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.

    Reply

  13. It sounds very strong

    Reply

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

    Reply

    • periode pooh

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  15. We both just loved it

    Reply

  16. Named after her great grandmother

    Reply

  17. 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 🙂

    Reply

  18. 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! 🙂

    Reply

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

    Reply

  20. am stella,I will love to be a star ?

    Reply

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

    Reply

  22. We just liked it

    Reply

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

    Reply

  24. 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.

    Reply

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

    Reply

    • Pretty name! How old is the grandbaby if you don’t mind me asking?

      Reply

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

    Reply

  27. My 13 year old named her Stella Belle

    Reply

  28. 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

    Reply

  29. 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!

    Reply

  30. Stella is very elegant and not common name.

    Reply

  31. 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.

    Reply

  32. 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.

    Reply

  33. 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! ?

    Reply

  34. 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
    ?

    Reply

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

  37. 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!

    Reply

  38. 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.

    Reply

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

    Reply

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