Sterling
Sterling is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Little star or high quality; standard of value.
Origin and history
Sterling originated as an English surname and place name, later used as a given name. It derives from the term for high-quality silver currency, originally meaning little star. In the United States, it is a well-established masculine name that has seen steady usage over time.
Popularity in the United States
37,474 babies in the United States have been named Sterling since 1880. It ranks #591 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #382.
States where it is most popular
- TX (11.8 %)
- CA (8.5 %)
- PA (5.2 %)
- VA (4.8 %)
- NC (4.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 168 |
| 1890-1900 | 233 |
| 1900-1910 | 352 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,608 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,533 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,904 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,334 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,570 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,496 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,072 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,968 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,709 |
| 2000-2010 | 3,027 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,464 |
| 2020-2029 | 5,036 |
Famous people named Sterling
- Sterling Holloway: Actor, Voice Actor
- Sterling K. Brown: Actor
- Sterling Sharpe: Athlete, Sports Analyst
Fun facts
- The word sterling has been used to denote pure silver and British currency since the Middle Ages.
- Before becoming a given name, Sterling was commonly an English and Scottish surname linked to the city of Stirling.