Stella
Girl name · #52 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Stella? In official American birth records, Stella has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Stella is currently the #52 girl name in the United States — 4,136 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #51, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 435 girls born in 2025 was named Stella.
Babies named Stella per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Stella first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 414 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 5,164 girls were named Stella — good for #38 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Stella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Stella in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Stella 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 Stella is most common
Geography matters for names, and Stella is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Stella is most common in RI (6.1 per 1,000), CT (5.6 per 1,000), ME (5.1 per 1,000), KS (4.9 per 1,000), MA (4.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Stella is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Stella
Statistically, parents drawn to Stella tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Layla, Bella, Mila, Ariella, and Ella.
LaylaBellaMilaAriellaEllaCamilaEmiliaSadie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Stella | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,136 | #52 |
| 2024 | 4,274 | #49 |
| 2023 | 4,371 | #46 |
| 2022 | 4,849 | #40 |
| 2021 | 4,820 | #41 |
| 2020 | 4,667 | #42 |
| 2019 | 4,997 | #40 |
| 2018 | 5,164 | #38 |
| 2017 | 5,070 | #42 |
| 2016 | 4,933 | #45 |
| 2015 | 4,798 | #51 |
| 2014 | 4,203 | #66 |
| 2013 | 3,916 | #70 |
| 2012 | 4,006 | #62 |
| 2011 | 3,698 | #74 |
| 2010 | 3,440 | #85 |
| 2009 | 2,560 | #126 |
| 2008 | 1,824 | #184 |
| 2007 | 1,463 | #243 |
| 2006 | 1,413 | #241 |
| 2005 | 1,308 | #250 |
| 2004 | 1,123 | #291 |
| 2003 | 797 | #380 |
| 2002 | 557 | #498 |
| 2001 | 422 | #598 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Stella?
In official American birth records, the name Stella first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 414 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Stella a popular girl name?
Stella ranked #52 among girls in 2025 with 4,136 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #51.
When was the name Stella most popular?
Stella peaked in 2018, when 5,164 American girls received the name (ranked #38 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Stella?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 435 newborn American girls was named Stella. 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.