Boy nameCurrently #372 in the USRising
Sterling
STUR-ling//ˈstɜːrlɪŋ//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20248 lettersStarts with S
Meaning & origin
Genuine, of high value
Sterling comes from the English term for high-quality silver coinage, extended to mean genuine, excellent, or of the highest standard. Its meaningful, polished sound has made it a distinctive modern choice.
Sterling's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Sterling |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 17 |
| 1881 | 8 |
| 1882 | 16 |
| 1883 | 20 |
| 1884 | 20 |
| 1885 | 18 |
| 1886 | 10 |
| 1887 | 19 |
| 1888 | 25 |
| 1889 | 15 |
| 1890 | 15 |
| 1891 | 25 |
| 1892 | 23 |
| 1893 | 30 |
| 1894 | 15 |
| 1895 | 35 |
| 1896 | 21 |
| 1897 | 25 |
| 1898 | 26 |
| 1899 | 18 |
| 1900 | 38 |
| 1901 | 28 |
| 1902 | 30 |
| 1903 | 31 |
| 1904 | 33 |
| 1905 | 30 |
| 1906 | 32 |
| 1907 | 39 |
| 1908 | 44 |
| 1909 | 47 |
| 1910 | 46 |
| 1911 | 47 |
| 1912 | 100 |
| 1913 | 138 |
| 1914 | 151 |
| 1915 | 209 |
| 1916 | 202 |
| 1917 | 218 |
| 1918 | 257 |
| 1919 | 254 |
| 1920 | 266 |
| 1921 | 275 |
| 1922 | 279 |
| 1923 | 260 |
| 1924 | 280 |
| 1925 | 241 |
| 1926 | 246 |
| 1927 | 242 |
| 1928 | 235 |
| 1929 | 256 |
| 1930 | 208 |
| 1931 | 198 |
| 1932 | 232 |
| 1933 | 186 |
| 1934 | 191 |
| 1935 | 179 |
| 1936 | 194 |
| 1937 | 166 |
| 1938 | 194 |
| 1939 | 182 |
| 1940 | 204 |
| 1941 | 207 |
| 1942 | 267 |
| 1943 | 222 |
| 1944 | 211 |
| 1945 | 223 |
| 1946 | 241 |
| 1947 | 281 |
| 1948 | 260 |
| 1949 | 267 |
| 1950 | 252 |
| 1951 | 260 |
| 1952 | 263 |
| 1953 | 255 |
| 1954 | 252 |
| 1955 | 276 |
| 1956 | 284 |
| 1957 | 246 |
| 1958 | 250 |
| 1959 | 259 |
| 1960 | 237 |
| 1961 | 255 |
| 1962 | 288 |
| 1963 | 288 |
| 1964 | 289 |
| 1965 | 222 |
| 1966 | 245 |
| 1967 | 222 |
| 1968 | 254 |
| 1969 | 244 |
| 1970 | 235 |
| 1971 | 251 |
| 1972 | 190 |
| 1973 | 201 |
| 1974 | 209 |
| 1975 | 190 |
| 1976 | 196 |
| 1977 | 226 |
| 1978 | 242 |
| 1979 | 243 |
| 1980 | 258 |
| 1981 | 238 |
| 1982 | 257 |
| 1983 | 301 |
| 1984 | 316 |
| 1985 | 294 |
| 1986 | 323 |
| 1987 | 358 |
| 1988 | 457 |
| 1989 | 422 |
| 1990 | 492 |
| 1991 | 503 |
| 1992 | 558 |
| 1993 | 580 |
| 1994 | 644 |
| 1995 | 564 |
| 1996 | 530 |
| 1997 | 470 |
| 1998 | 490 |
| 1999 | 447 |
| 2000 | 436 |
| 2001 | 450 |
| 2002 | 434 |
| 2003 | 379 |
| 2004 | 363 |
| 2005 | 311 |
| 2006 | 325 |
| 2007 | 310 |
| 2008 | 290 |
| 2009 | 278 |
| 2010 | 351 |
| 2011 | 371 |
| 2012 | 415 |
| 2013 | 511 |
| 2014 | 649 |
| 2015 | 680 |
| 2016 | 804 |
| 2017 | 839 |
| 2018 | 909 |
| 2019 | 868 |
| 2020 | 889 |
| 2021 | 1,026 |
| 2022 | 973 |
| 2023 | 972 |
| 2024 | 1,098 |
Sterling through the decades
- Sterling peaked in 2024, when 1,098 babies were named Sterling in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Sterling has risen 138% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Sterling currently ranks #372 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
Sterl
Variants & spellings
Stirling