Sterling Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Boy Names Like Sterling

Sterling Name Origin: English
Pronunciation: s-terli-ng, st(er)-ling
See what 4 people think about Sterling

Meaning
Share
Popularity
Alternatives
Lists
Comments

Sterling Name Meaning

The meaning of the name Sterling is “of high quality,” reflecting its origins as a term for a type of coin. The name Sterling suggests excellence, value, and distinction, making it a great choice for parents who are looking for a name that reflects their son’s potential.

History of the Name Sterling

The name Sterling has its roots in Old English, and it’s been used as a given name since the Middle Ages. The name Sterling was originally used to describe a type of coin, and it was later adopted as a given name to reflect its association with wealth and prosperity. Over time, the name Sterling evolved into the modern spelling of Sterling, and it’s now used as a given name in many different countries around the world.

Origins of the Name Sterling

The name Sterling is of Old English origin, and it’s derived from the word “sterling,” which means “little star.” The name Sterling suggests brilliance, shine, and radiance, making it a great choice for parents who are looking for a name that reflects their son’s character.

Popularity of the Name Sterling

The name Sterling has been growing in popularity in recent years, and it’s now a common name for boys in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration, the name Sterling was the 648th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2020. The popularity of the name Sterling is likely due to its association with wealth, prosperity, and distinction, as well as its modern and stylish sound.

Final Thoughts on the Name Sterling

Sterling is a name that’s synonymous with quality, value, and distinction! With its roots in Old English, it’s a name that’s got a rich history and a lot of style. Whether you’re looking for a name that’s classic and traditional, or a name that’s modern and stylish, Sterling is a great choice. So if you’re looking for a name for your little guy that’s got a lot of shine and a lot of distinction, consider the name Sterling!

Sterling Name Popularity

How popular is the name Sterling? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	—	11	0.0031%
1911	—	0	0%
1912	—	51	0.0101%
1913	—	85	0.015%
1914	—	107	0.0154%
1915	—	165	0.0182%
1916	—	173	0.0179%
1917	—	165	0.0165%
1918	—	199	0.0185%
1919	—	214	0.0204%
1920	—	194	0.0174%
1921	—	228	0.0199%
1922	—	233	0.0209%
1923	—	213	0.019%
1924	—	248	0.0214%
1925	—	193	0.0171%
1926	—	204	0.0185%
1927	—	186	0.0168%
1928	—	175	0.0164%
1929	—	201	0.0194%
1930	—	161	0.0154%
1931	—	152	0.0154%
1932	—	191	0.0193%
1933	—	134	0.0144%
1934	—	124	0.0128%
1935	—	135	0.0139%
1936	—	141	0.0146%
1937	—	116	0.0118%
1938	—	152	0.0148%
1939	—	125	0.0123%
1940	—	158	0.0149%
1941	—	140	0.0124%
1942	—	219	0.0173%
1943	—	168	0.0129%
1944	—	164	0.0132%
1945	—	172	0.0141%
1946	—	196	0.0133%
1947	—	230	0.0138%
1948	—	205	0.0128%
1949	—	219	0.0136%
1950	—	197	0.0122%
1951	—	219	0.0129%
1952	—	207	0.0119%
1953	—	211	0.0119%
1954	—	203	0.0111%
1955	—	219	0.0119%
1956	—	224	0.0119%
1957	—	187	0.0097%
1958	—	200	0.0106%
1959	—	206	0.0108%
1960	—	179	0.0094%
1961	—	195	0.0103%
1962	—	237	0.0129%
1963	—	222	0.0124%
1964	—	232	0.0132%
1965	—	164	0.01%
1966	—	194	0.0124%
1967	—	158	0.0104%
1968	—	192	0.0128%
1969	—	187	0.0121%
1970	—	174	0.0109%
1971	—	204	0.0136%
1972	—	135	0.0099%
1973	—	148	0.0114%
1974	—	139	0.0107%
1975	—	127	0.0099%
1976	—	142	0.011%
1977	—	152	0.0113%
1978	—	173	0.0129%
1979	—	173	0.0123%
1980	—	197	0.0135%
1981	—	155	0.0105%
1982	—	179	0.012%
1983	—	207	0.014%
1984	—	235	0.0158%
1985	—	240	0.0158%
1986	—	248	0.0164%
1987	—	277	0.0182%
1988	—	379	0.0243%
1989	—	336	0.0208%
1990	—	397	0.024%
1991	—	414	0.0254%
1992	—	473	0.0296%
1993	—	453	0.0291%
1994	—	550	0.0358%
1995	—	483	0.032%
1996	—	433	0.0289%
1997	—	377	0.0255%
1998	—	372	0.0249%
1999	—	343	0.0229%
2000	—	311	0.0204%
2001	—	335	0.0222%
2002	—	310	0.0207%
2003	—	281	0.0185%
2004	—	240	0.0157%
2005	—	223	0.0146%
2006	—	206	0.0132%
2007	—	218	0.0138%
2008	—	205	0.0133%
2009	—	158	0.0106%
2010	—	244	0.0169%
2011	—	244	0.0171%
2012	—	308	0.0216%
2013	—	409	0.0287%
2014	—	511	0.0351%
2015	—	555	0.0381%
2016	—	624	0.0433%
2017	—	672	0.0481%
2018	—	750	0.0546%
2019	—	723	0.0534%
2020	—	727	0.0571%
2021	—	812	0.0664%
2022	—	760	0.0576%
2023	—	757	0.0585%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Sterling

If you like Sterling, you’ll love these other names like Sterling.

What names are variants of Sterling?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Sterling.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Sterlyn	Genuine, of high quality	English
Stirling	Genuine, of high quality	English

What names sound like Sterling?

If you like how Sterling sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Sterling.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Starling	Starling bird	English
Sutherland	Southern island

Lists With Sterling

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Sterling.

Siblings of Sterling

Mamas with kids named Sterling also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Zoey	Life	Greek

Share Your Thoughts

4 Comments

Kaitlyn Oct 5 at 6:27 am

My husband’s grandfather’s name and we love that name. Very special.

Reply
Brittney Sep 6 at 9:47 am

My husband and I were watching one of our favorite shows, and the character’s name is Sterling. I couldn’t get it out of my head and I suggested the name to my husband. He loved it, especially since it’s unique without being too weird or difficult to spell. So we named our son Sterling!

Reply
Kerry Jul 19 at 9:16 pm

I chose the name Sterling because I had met a little boy named Sterling when I was a teenager who had been named after his Granddad. The little boy was very sweet and smart, just loved to help others, sort of an old soul. I always admired that name since. The name means bright star, great description for my little boy.

Reply
Lorna Jun 21 at 11:40 am

Sterling was my husbands grandfather’s name. We also thought it was strong, handsome,and unique. I love it so much I probably would have used it if he was a girl too.

Reply

Sterling