Currently one of the top baby names in the United States, Stella is popular with celebrities and non-celebrities alike. The feminine moniker is sweet and pairs well with many middle names. It also has both spiritual and religious meanings.
Meaning of the name Stella:
Latin: Star
Origin of the name Stella:
Stella is the Latin word for star. It was first used as a given name for girls around the end of the Middle Ages.
Symbolism of the name Stella:
Because Stella means “star,” the name often symbolizes the celestial world. Stella Maris, which means “star of the sea,” was also a title given to the Virgin Mary, so Stella has some biblical symbolism as well.
Style of the name Stella:
Traditional
Gender of the name Stella:
Stella is a girl's name.
Pronunciation of the name Stella:
STELL-ah
Number of syllables in the name Stella:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Stella:
The baby name Stella evokes the image of someone who is feminine and sensitive.
Alternative spellings for the name Stella:
- Stellah
Nicknames for the name Stella:
- Star
- Ella
- Stell
- Stellie
Popularity of the name Stella:
Stella was one of the top 100 names for girls throughout the early 1900s, according to the Social Security Administration. While it fell out of favor for a while during the latter part of the century, it came back with a vengeance in the 2010s. In 2020, Stella ranked at number 42 on the list of top baby girl names in the United States.
Related names for the name Stella:
Great middle names for Stella and their meanings:
- Brooke (small stream)
- Harper (harp player)
- Kate (pure)
- Luna (moon)
- Marie (star of the sea)
- Ruby (red gemstone)
- Renee (born again)
- Taylor (tailor)
Famous people with the name Stella:
- Stella Adler (actress and famous acting teacher)
- Stella Stevens (actress and model)
- Stella Ashcroft (gymnast)
- Stealla Dupont (politician)
- Stella McCartney (fashion designer)
- Stella Maessen (singer)
Stellas in popular culture:
- Stella Bonasera (character on the TV show “CSI: NY”)
- Stella Chernak (character on the TV show “Peyton Place”)
- Stella Kowalski (character in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”)
- Stella Malone (character on the TV show “Jonas”)
- Stella the Star Fairy (character in the “Rainbow Magic” book series)
- Stella the Storyteller (character on the TV show “Barney and Friends”)