Celeste
Girl name · #188 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Celeste? In official American birth records, Celeste has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,662 baby girls were named Celeste, placing it at #188 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #500, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,083 girls born in 2025 was named Celeste.
Babies named Celeste per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 144-year story
Celeste first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 14 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 1,662 babies and a rank of #188. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Celeste against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Celeste in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Celeste is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Celeste is most common
Geography matters for names, and Celeste is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Celeste is most common in NM (3.2 per 1,000), NV (2.3 per 1,000), CA (2 per 1,000), OR (2 per 1,000), AZ (1.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Celeste is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Celeste
Statistically, parents drawn to Celeste tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Colette, Camille, Noelle, Celine, and Callie.
ColetteCamilleNoelleCelineCallieCeciliaDaphnePhoebe
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Celeste | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,662 | #188 |
| 2024 | 1,562 | #197 |
| 2023 | 1,137 | #276 |
| 2022 | 1,083 | #292 |
| 2021 | 1,002 | #327 |
| 2020 | 876 | #352 |
| 2019 | 840 | #374 |
| 2018 | 720 | #446 |
| 2017 | 675 | #465 |
| 2016 | 632 | #494 |
| 2015 | 638 | #500 |
| 2014 | 679 | #467 |
| 2013 | 654 | #468 |
| 2012 | 655 | #470 |
| 2011 | 671 | #453 |
| 2010 | 674 | #457 |
| 2009 | 676 | #458 |
| 2008 | 806 | #400 |
| 2007 | 914 | #355 |
| 2006 | 1,013 | #327 |
| 2005 | 1,203 | #272 |
| 2004 | 1,637 | #204 |
| 2003 | 1,034 | #298 |
| 2002 | 1,011 | #308 |
| 2001 | 1,095 | #285 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Celeste?
In official American birth records, the name Celeste first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 14 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Celeste a popular girl name?
Celeste ranked #188 among girls in 2025 with 1,662 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #500.
When was the name Celeste most popular?
Celeste peaked in 2025, when 1,662 American girls received the name (ranked #188 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Celeste?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,083 newborn American girls was named Celeste. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.