Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Stella

The name Stella comes from the Latin word “stella” meaning “star” ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *stēr- meaning the same (Pok. 1028). A star is, of course, an astronomical object seen as a bright point of light against the night sky. The most notable of all stars is the sun, from which the earth receives most of its energy (it is also the closest star to earth). As a female given name, Stella was most likely popularized by the English poet Sir Philip Sidney in his 16th century sonnet sequence, “Astrophel and Stella” (translation: Star Lover and His Star). In part, the poem reads: “His paper, pale despair, and pain his pen doth move. / I can speak what I feel, and feel as much as they, / But think that all the map of my state I display, / When trembling voice brings forth that I do Stella love.” Usage of Stella may have also been influenced by “Stella Maris” (Star of the Sea), which is an epithet of the Virgin Mary. Today the name Stella is coming back into vogue all over the Western World. She ranks high in Sweden, Canada, Australia, the United States, Norway and France.

All About the Baby Name – Stella

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME STELLA

Romance is the hallmark of the Six personality. They exude nurturing, loving, and caring energy. Sixes are in love with the idea of love in its idealized form - and with their magnetic personalities, they easily draw people toward them. Like the number Two personality, they seek balance and harmony in their life and the world at large. They are conscientious and service-oriented, and a champion for the underdog. These personalities naturally attract money and are usually surrounded by lovely material objects - but their human relationships are always primary. They thrive in giving back to others rather than being motivated by their own desires. This is when they achieve great things. Sixes are natural teachers, ministers and counselors.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME STELLA

Stella! Stella! (think: Marlon Brando in “A Street Car Named Desire”). Stella was a popular name in America at the turn of the 20th century. A hundred years ago, the name was squarely a Top 100 favorite for at least three decades. However, starting in the 1920s, the name experienced a serious decline until it completely fell off the popularity charts in the 1990s. Not to worry. The name came screaming back into the American psyches starting in 1998 and increased over (gasp) 900 spots on the list in 13 short years. Talk about a come-back. This is the Rocky Balboa of girl names. Stella is clearly here to stay, and is a product of the now-trendy resurgence of early 20th century names. In 2010, Stella landed a spot on America’s Top 100 list of most-favored baby girl names for the first time since 1923. And she’s not showing any signs of waning. In fact, her performance is downright “stellar”!

Quick Facts

ON STELLA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

Latin

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

70

PRONUNCIATION:

STEL-lah

SIMPLE MEANING:

Star

Characteristics

OF STELLA

Humanitarian

Community-minded

Family-oriented

Loving

Affectionate

Compassionate

Sensitive

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Stella

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME STELLA

Stella is the sister of Blanche DuBois, the main character in Tennessee Williams’ 1947 play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Raised as genteel Southern belles in a time long gone, the sisters have made their separate ways in life. Stella has adapted to the course realities of the modern world, while Blanche drifts farther and farther away into denial and madness. Stella has hitched her wagon to the strutting, uber-masculine World War II hero, Stanley Kowalski, and knowingly, willingly lives with him in circumstances that appear brutish and reduced to her sister. The payoff, for Stella, is an earthy relationship that produces a son and that provides her with sensual satisfaction, in contrast to the ever increasing flights of fancy to which Blanche succumbs in her quest to regain and maintain a foothold in a society and moral purview that is gone with the wind. Stella is the survivor, and she will protect that choice at any cost.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME STELLA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Stella


Popular Songs

ON STELLA

Stella
a song by The Tubes

O Stella
a song by PJ Harvey

Stella Blue
a song by the Grateful Dead

Stella by Starlight
a jazz instrumental by Miles Davis

Famous People

NAMED STELLA

Stella McCartney (fashion designer)

Children of Famous People

NAMED STELLA

Matt Damon; Tori Spelling;

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME STELLA

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Stella