How Many People Are Named Stella?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Stella

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 134,514 living people in the United States currently have the first name Stella. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 338,921 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #20 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~134,514CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)338,921Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#20U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1943 (7,505 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~134,514
Historical Births (SSA)
338,921
All-Time Rank
#20
Historical Peak
1943

Key Insights for Stella

Estimated Living Bearers
~134,514 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#20
Top 100 All-Time Classic
Historical Peak Year
1943
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
12% Male · 88% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-100%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~16,814 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Stella

Living Population Model
~134,514

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
338,921

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
300,000

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
66.9 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1943

Highest annual total: 7,505 registrations in 1943.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-100%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Stella has experienced a 100% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Stella (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1943 (~7,505 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
2010909
2011808
2012707
2013606
2014505
2015505
2016404
2017404
2018000
2019000
2020000
2021000
2022000
2023000
2024000

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
81/100
1960s
49/100
1970s
22/100
1980s
7/100
1990s
2/100
2000s
1/100
2010s
1/100
2020s
1/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Stella has been predominantly feminine (88% female vs 12% male).

Male: 12% (~40,635 births)Female: 88% (~298,286 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Stella

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Stella in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Stella appeared 300,000 times, ranking #506 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
300,000 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#506
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Stella Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~16,814 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~16,81412.5%
Texas (TX)~12,3759.2%
Florida (FL)~9,1476.8%
New York (NY)~8,2056.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~5,3814%
Illinois (IL)~5,2463.9%
Ohio (OH)~4,8433.6%
Georgia (GA)~4,4393.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 134,514 people named Stella are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 66.9 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Stella: 66.9 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Popular Full-Name Combinations for Stella

Estimated frequency of common first-name + surname combinations:

Frequently Asked Questions About Stella

How many people in the U.S. are named Stella?

Approximately 134,514 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Stella. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 338,921 birth applications for Stella between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Stella?

Stella ranks #20 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This puts Stella among the 100 most common first names in American history.

When was the name Stella most popular in America?

The name Stella reached its peak historical popularity in 1943, when 7,505 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Stella?

Stella has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Stella?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Stella has been predominantly feminine (88% female vs 12% male).

Where is the name Stella most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Stella resides in California, with approximately 16,814 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Stella in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Stella appeared 300,000 times in census returns, ranking #506 in official 2020 returns.

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