Sterling
Sterling was the 346th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 944 babies. Its best year was 1895, when it ranked 308th; the most babies were born in 2025 (944). Over the last ten years it has moved up 147 places. More babies were named Sterling in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Scottish, English
Say it STER-ling /ˈstɜrlɪŋ/
- Rank in 2025
- #346 boys, up 54 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 944boys
- Girls and boys
- 19% girls, 81% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025944 babies
- Total since 1880
- 41,197babies recorded
What does the name Sterling mean?
Sterling is a surname with more than one source. Wiktionary gives it as a variant of Scottish Stirling, from the town of Stirling, whose own name is of uncertain Celtic origin (Harrison suggested "yellow dwelling"), and as an English variant of Starling, a nickname from the bird. It also matches the word sterling, meaning genuine silver or of high quality, which suits its use as a first name.
Stirling (Scots / Celtic, “town name (origin uncertain)”)stærlinc (Old English, “starling”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Several surname sources; the place name Stirling is itself of uncertain origin.
Related names: Stirling, Starling.
See also: Scottish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Sterling', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary, vol. 2 (1918), s.v. 'STIRLING', Morland Press (public domain; Internet Archive scan)
- Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary, vol. 2 (1918), s.v. 'STARLING', Morland Press (public domain; Internet Archive scan)
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'sterling', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Sterling popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,100 | #346 | 218 | 944 |
| 2020 | #1,686 | #400 | 122 | 768 |
| 2010 | #3,198 | #755 | 52 | 299 |
| 2000 | #2,188 | #569 | 73 | 363 |
| 1990 | #2,845 | #463 | 41 | 451 |
| 1980 | #4,710 | #550 | 16 | 242 |
| 1970 | #4,228 | #548 | 14 | 221 |
| 1960 | — | #516 | — | 237 |
| 1950 | — | #422 | — | 252 |
| 1940 | — | #402 | — | 204 |
| 1930 | — | #404 | — | 208 |
| 1920 | #4,337 | #374 | 7 | 259 |
| 1910 | — | #390 | — | 46 |
| 1900 | — | #356 | — | 38 |
| 1890 | — | #509 | — | 15 |
| 1880 | — | #440 | — | 17 |
How popular is Sterling, counting every spelling?
Sterling is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #349 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #346 for Sterling on its own. Together these spellings went to 967 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | 944 | #346 | 4,268 |
| Stirling | 23 | #4,517 | 84 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Sterling?
944 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Sterling (0.26 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Sterling born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 9 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Sterling.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Sterling?
About 27,600 people born in the US named Sterling are alive today, with a median age of 27; half are between 9 and 46. That makes Sterling mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Sterling by state
How common Sterling was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Montana (4.4×), Alaska (3.6×), Nebraska (3.3×), Oklahoma (2.5×), Idaho (2.3×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Sterling: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Sterling, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Sterling · Sibling names for Sterling
Questions about the name Sterling
What does Sterling mean?
The origin of Sterling is uncertain: several surname sources; the place name Stirling is itself of uncertain origin.
How popular is the name Sterling?
Sterling was the 346th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 944 babies. Its best year was 1895, when it ranked 308th; the most babies were born in 2025 (944). Over the last ten years it has moved up 147 places. More babies were named Sterling in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Sterling a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 19% girls, 81% boys given the name Sterling in the US.
Where is Sterling most popular?
In 2021–2025, Sterling was most common in Montana (2.15 per 1,000 boys), followed by Alaska and Nebraska.