Stella

Check out this stellar name choice sure to leave you feeling starry-eyed. Stella is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "star." Stella and the word "star" can be traced all the way back to the Anatolian root ḫašterz, though nothing on Earth is as ancient as the stars themselves. Coined by the 16th-century poet Philip Sidney for his collection of sonnets Astrophel and Stella, Stella has a romantic, Renaissance vibe with a universe of possibilities. It also appears in Tennessee Williams' 1947 play A Streetcar Named Desire, which was soon adapted into the iconic movie. The Bump member alliejo725 loves these as reasons to choose Stella, saying, "I adore Stella. It's absolutely beautiful, and so cute—with a great literary/film reference."

Stella has remained a North Star in terms of its enduring height in the charts since it first entered the mainstream in the 19th century, and aside from a dip during the mid-20th century, its light shows no signs of dimming any time soon. Stella has captured the attention of celebrities, too, with parents like Madonna, Matt Damon, Tori Spelling, Ellen Pompeo, and Holly Williams all choosing it for their kiddos. Stella serves as a nickname for Estella and Estelle, but shines just as bright as a stand-alone title. In some cases, it's used as a diminutive for the Greek name Styliani, meaning "pillar," complementing Stella's high and heavenly feel.

Fun Facts About the Name Stella

• Stella's 100-year return: Stella was incredibly popular at the turn of the 20th century, ranking in the top 100 from 1900 through 1923. It then left the top 1,000 list entirely by the 1980s and 1990s. As of 2025, Stella sits in the top 100 names for girls, making it another vintage name of the "100-Year Rule" that has come back into style.
• Stella!: The play and movie A Streetcar Named Desire likely had a negative impact on Stella's appeal, as the Social Security Administration (SSA)'s data shows a steep decline in Stella's popularity and usage over the following decades of their releases.
• The space-age name trend: Stella is one of many names modern parents are falling in love with thanks to its space and nature themes. Just like Nova, Luna and Iris, Stella carries that sought-after celestial vibe.