Stella
STEL-ah
Stella comes directly from Latin “stella” (star), from Proto-Indo-European “ster-,” a root that also produced Greek “aster” and English “star.”
Sir Philip Sidney’s sonnet sequence “Astrophil and Stella” (c. 1582), 1 of the first major English sonnet sequences, established the name in literary tradition. It was modeled on Petrarch and addressed to a fictionalized Penelope Devereux.
In Catholic tradition, “Stella Maris” (Star of the Sea) is a title of the Virgin Mary since at least the 9th century.
What the name Stella means
Tennessee Williams brought the name to mass consciousness through Stella Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1947).
Marlon Brando’s anguished cry of “STELLA!” in the 1951 film became 1 of the most recognizable moments in American cinema and permanently linked the name to dramatic intensity.
The name declined mid-century, then revived after 2000. Stella McCartney (born 1971) and Stella Artois beer maintained its visibility during the dormant decades.
Stella peaked at No. 38 in 2018 with 5,163 births. As of 2024, it ranks No. 49 with 4,264, having held a top-50 position for nearly a full decade of consistent popularity.
Its 2-syllable structure and transparent meaning give Stella a directness rare among names of Latin origin.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Stella
Stella - similar names
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Ways to spell Stella
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Stelle | English variant |
| Estelle | French |
| Estella | French/Spanish |
| Stela | Romanian/Portuguese |