Baby Name Popularity Profile

Sterling

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Sterling.

✦ Of high quality; excellent 🌍 English virtue traditional
National Rank (2025) #346
All-Time Peak Rank #308 Achieved 1895
Total U.S. Births 37,474 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 84.0% Boy / 16.0% Girl Leans Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 944 births in 2025
💡 The Sterling Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Of high quality; excellent
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from an English surname, which is associated with the sterling silver coin, signifying 'of high quality' or 'excellent'. The surname may also have originated from the Old English word for 'starling' (the bird).
Pronunciation: STER-ling
Themes & Categories
virtue traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Sterling

According to SSA data, Sterling achieved its highest historical rank of #308 in 1895. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2025 with 944 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 58.7%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Sterling across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +58.7% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 944 births in 2025
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 104 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 168
1890s: 233
1900s: 352
1910s: 1,608
1920s: 2,533
1930s: 1,904
1940s: 2,334
1950s: 2,570
1960s: 2,496
1970s: 2,072
1980s: 2,968
1990s: 4,709
2000s: 3,027
2010s: 5,464
2020s: 5,036

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ster-ling
Letter Count 8 letters
Spelling Complexity Complex
Length Percentile Longer than 79% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 79.0% of SSA names. Starts with S, a letter used by only 7.9% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Sterling.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Utah
Top States Utah, Louisiana, Virginia, Alaska, Nevada
States with Data 49
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Utah #254 1,131 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #370 1,298 1948 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #327 1,505 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 87 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #506 189 2020 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 254 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #471 853 1994 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #257 666 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #274 205 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #278 3,701 2025 +65.1% Growth
North Carolina #355 1,360 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #364 1,049 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #304 560 2017 18.5% Decline
Arkansas #329 499 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii #251 139 1991 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #310 400 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #292 598 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #217 620 2025 +37.0% Growth
Montana #143 116 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #334 784 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #339 1,003 2025 +16.1% Growth
Florida #410 1,220 2018 +33.3% Growth
Kentucky #220 567 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #478 595 2024 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #267 166 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #505 1,631 1924 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #207 220 2021 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #466 426 2024 Insufficient historical volume
California #580 2,661 2021 7.1% Decline
Kansas #261 272 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #298 920 2020 8.3% Decline
West Virginia Unranked 216 1925 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #379 1,063 2020 11.8% Decline
Illinois #601 1,020 1993 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #309 251 1941 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 26 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #283 363 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 79 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #275 236 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #282 402 2025 Insufficient historical volume
New York #689 1,169 2022 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #115 50 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #324 256 2019 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #260 45 2016 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #1165 300 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #685 125 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #492 39 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 5 2022 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 6 2021 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Phoenix Hendrix Kashton Ismael Kayson Benson Jensen Lennox Archie Colson
👧 Sister Suggestions
Leighton Journee Colette Wrenlee Arleth Lilith Meadow Harlow Maryam Astrid

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