Stirling is a Scottish surname and given name, derived from the Gaelic 'Sterlin', which means 'little field'. It has been used as both a first name and last name throughout Scotland for centuries. The most notable bearer of the name is the renowned engineer and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton 'Babbage' Stirling.
The name Stirling experienced fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with a significant increase in usage since the late 1990s. From 1912 to 1985, there were fewer than 10 births per year on average. However, starting from 1986, the number of annual births steadily rose, reaching double digits by 1995 and peaking at 24 in 2015. The name's popularity has since stabilized, with around 15-20 births per year in recent years.