The name Stella is of Latin origin and means "star". It has been used as a given name since the 19th century but was more popular in the early 20th century, particularly among English-speaking countries.
Stella comes from the Latin word for star, "stella", which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ster-" meaning "star". It is often associated with concepts of brightness and guidance, as stars have been used throughout history to navigate by sailors and inspire astronomers alike.
In literature and art, Stella has been a popular choice for characters due to its celestial connotations. For example, it was the name of one of Robert Louis Stevenson's characters in his poem "A Christmas Sermon". In music, singer and songwriter Sting gave his daughter the name Stella, born in 1982.
While not particularly common today, the name Stella remains a classic choice for parents seeking something elegant yet approachable. Its meaning adds a touch of mystique to an otherwise familiar-sounding moniker. Overall, Stella is an attractive option that carries with it a certain celestial glamour without being overly flashy or trendy.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Stella in the United States from 1880 to 2023.
Over the course of these years, there have been significant fluctuations in the popularity of the name Stella. The name started off relatively uncommonly, with fewer than 500 births per year until 1914. However, between 1914 and 1927, the number of births with the name Stella increased substantially, peaking at 3657 births in 1915.
After this peak, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name, reaching its lowest point in the late 1950s to early 1960s, with fewer than 700 births per year. This trend continued until the late 1980s and early 1990s.
However, beginning in the late 1990s, there was a resurgence in the popularity of the name Stella. From around 2000 onwards, the number of births with this name began to increase significantly once again. This trend has continued into recent years, with the name Stella reaching its highest level of popularity since the early 1900s in 2021 and 2022, with over 4300 births each year.
In total, between 1880 and 2023, there have been 198,452 births to girls named Stella in the United States. This represents a notable change in the popularity of this name over time, reflecting broader societal trends and preferences.