Sterling

Sterling - A very unique male name

Sterling appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #467. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Sterling and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Sterling? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Sterling. The baby boy name Sterling was given to 927 baby boys in 2025, ranking #346 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,582 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Sterling peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 346.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Sterling, 1-5?

Sterling is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Sterling is currently topping the baby name charts in South Dakota at position #115 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #1,165.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Sterling is where you live.

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Sterling origin and meaning

English, transferred surname and word name — origin disputed

Uncertain — sterling, the silver standard, is traced both to a Norman coin name and to Old English steorra, 'star,' in 'little star'

Sterling is an English surname and the name of high-grade silver, but the word's own origin is disputed between coin-based and star-based derivations. It has been in US data since 1910, long at low levels as a distinguished-sounding surname name. It is rising and reached its highest use in 2025.

Origin uncertain

Sterling is a 8 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Sterling, pop culture references for the name Sterling and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Sterling

We've found the following names that sound similar to Sterling, sorted by popularity.

Starling / Stirling /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Sterling

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Sterling a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Sterling?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

STER-ling · /ˈstɜːrlɪŋ/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Sterling K. Brown — Actor (b. 1976) Contemporary
• Sterling Holloway — Actor and voice artist (1905–1992) Historical

Style

SurnameWord name

Why parents choose it

Sterling sounds polished and substantial — a surname name with a built-in sense of quality from the silver word.

Worth knowing

• The silver and currency association cuts both ways; some hear a brand or a bank before a boy.