Stella
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Star — a bright light shining through the darkness
Origin: Latin — stella (star); popularized as a given name by Sir Philip Sidney's 1591 sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella
Popularity: Ranked #52 in 2025 with 4,136 babies born.
History: Stella means star in Latin, and it has shone consistently in the naming firmament across the centuries. Sir Philip Sidney's sonnet sequence gave it literary credentials in the Elizabethan era. Tennessee Williams made it famous in a different way — Stanley Kowalski's passionate cry of 'Stella!' in A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) is one of the most iconic moments in American theater. The name was popular in the late 19th century, faded through the mid-20th, and has surged back strongly since the 2000s, entering the U.S. top 50. It is warm, starry, and radiantly timeless.
Famous people named Stella: Stella McCartney (designer), Stella from A Streetcar Named Desire
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Stella? About 1 in 805 babies born in 2025 were named Stella, or roughly 11.3 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Stella
What does the name Stella mean?
Stella means “Star — a bright light shining through the darkness” from Latin — stella (star); popularized as a given name by Sir Philip Sidney's 1591 sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella roots.
What is the origin of the name Stella?
Stella has Latin — stella (star); popularized as a given name by Sir Philip Sidney's 1591 sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella origin. The traditional meaning is “Star — a bright light shining through the darkness”.
How popular is Stella?
Stella ranked #52 in 2025 — given to 4,136 babies that year.
When was Stella most popular?
Stella peaked in 2018 with 5,163 babies registered that year.
Is Stella a boy or girl name?
Stella is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Stellas in registered births are female.
Is the name Stella rising or falling in popularity?
Stella has fallen 10 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #42 in 2020 to #52 in 2025.
How long has Stella been recorded?
Stella appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.