US Popularity Rank: 125

Origin: Latin

Meaning: Star

Stella is a girl's name of Latian and Italian origins, meaning "star," which dates back to the Middle Ages. Back then, Stella was used in descriptions of the Virgin Mary, such as Stella Maris for "star of the sea" and Stella Coeli for "star of the sky." Stella was a popular given name from the late 19th century to the early 20th century before making a comeback in the early 2000s. There is a starry-eyed quality to this name, and many celebrities—including Matt Damon, Ellen Pompeo and Tori Spelling—have bestowed it on their daughters. Looking for something with a little more je ne sais quoi? Try the French version, Estelle.