Names › Girls' names › S › Stella

Stella

Meaning: star · Origin: Latin · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

Latin for 'star'. Sir Philip Sidney used it in his sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella (1580s).

Famous people named Stella

Stella McCartney (designer)

Nicknames

Stell

Variants & related names

Estelle, Estella, Stela

Stella name art

A free preview of a printable “Stella” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Stella mean?

Stella means “star”. It comes from Latin.

Is Stella a popular name?

Yes — Stella has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Stella?

Stell.

What are other forms of Stella?

Estelle, Estella, Stela.

Similar names

Alba · Laura · Leona · Juniper · Olivia · Luna

More: names starting with S · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.