“stream” + “pool, lake”
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A name. A world of connections.
A given name in English and Finnish
Hear the name
English (Southern England)
01 / Meaning & origin
Sterling is a unisex given name documented in English and Finnish.
No etymology is recorded in our sources for this spelling yet. The record exists because the name is documented in use; a meaning will be shown only once a cited source supports it.
02 / Across borders
Explore published naming statistics and documented language connections around the world.
The name atlas
13
countries in our sources
Select a country to follow Sterling’s connections around the world.
7 countries with published statistics. Language records show cultural connections; they do not measure how common a name is.
Selected country
Statistics + language records
United States, 2025: 944 boys (rank 345). Documented as a given name in English.
Explore United States4 of 13 countries
03 / By the numbers
Follow the spelling through the years, one published dataset at a time.
1880–2025 Spelling: Sterling
Hover to explore a year. Use arrow keys when a chart point has focus.
Source: US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
Integer application counts retained without rounding.
Per million is unavailable: this source has no matching published total.
| Year | Applications | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 17 | 425 | observed |
| 1881 | 8 | 653 | observed |
| 1882 | 16 | 453 | observed |
| 1883 | 20 | 381 | observed |
| 1884 | 20 | 399 | observed |
| 1885 | 18 | 422 | observed |
| 1886 | 10 | 605 | observed |
| 1887 | 19 | 377 | observed |
| 1888 | 25 | 369 | observed |
| 1889 | 15 | 482 | observed |
| 1890 | 15 | 489 | observed |
| 1891 | 25 | 340 | observed |
| 1892 | 23 | 394 | observed |
| 1893 | 30 | 317 | observed |
| 1894 | 15 | 521 | observed |
| 1895 | 35 | 305 | observed |
| 1896 | 21 | 424 | observed |
| 1897 | 25 | 375 | observed |
| 1898 | 26 | 385 | observed |
| 1899 | 18 | 438 | observed |
| 1900 | 38 | 354 | observed |
| 1901 | 28 | 347 | observed |
| 1902 | 30 | 360 | observed |
| 1903 | 31 | 346 | observed |
| 1904 | 33 | 351 | observed |
| 1905 | 30 | 384 | observed |
| 1906 | 32 | 378 | observed |
| 1907 | 39 | 351 | observed |
| 1908 | 44 | 341 | observed |
| 1909 | 47 | 339 | observed |
| 1910 | 46 | 383 | observed |
| 1911 | 47 | 420 | observed |
| 1912 | 100 | 384 | observed |
| 1913 | 132 | 362 | observed |
| 1914 | 151 | 385 | observed |
| 1915 | 209 | 372 | observed |
| 1916 | 202 | 390 | observed |
| 1917 | 218 | 383 | observed |
| 1918 | 249 | 376 | observed |
| 1919 | 254 | 361 | observed |
| 1920 | 259 | 373 | observed |
| 1921 | 269 | 372 | observed |
| 1922 | 270 | 364 | observed |
| 1923 | 253 | 376 | observed |
| 1924 | 280 | 356 | observed |
| 1925 | 241 | 384 | observed |
| 1926 | 246 | 371 | observed |
| 1927 | 236 | 385 | observed |
| 1928 | 229 | 392 | observed |
| 1929 | 250 | 356 | observed |
| 1930 | 208 | 402 | observed |
| 1931 | 193 | 404 | observed |
| 1932 | 227 | 369 | observed |
| 1933 | 186 | 397 | observed |
| 1934 | 186 | 405 | observed |
| 1935 | 179 | 411 | observed |
| 1936 | 194 | 392 | observed |
| 1937 | 166 | 439 | observed |
| 1938 | 188 | 414 | observed |
| 1939 | 177 | 428 | observed |
| 1940 | 204 | 402 | observed |
| 1941 | 200 | 413 | observed |
| 1942 | 258 | 377 | observed |
| 1943 | 217 | 422 | observed |
| 1944 | 211 | 416 | observed |
| 1945 | 216 | 409 | observed |
| 1946 | 232 | 417 | observed |
| 1947 | 281 | 409 | observed |
| 1948 | 255 | 419 | observed |
| 1949 | 260 | 422 | observed |
| 1950 | 252 | 421 | observed |
| 1951 | 260 | 420 | observed |
| 1952 | 255 | 440 | observed |
| 1953 | 255 | 449 | observed |
| 1954 | 252 | 457 | observed |
| 1955 | 267 | 455 | observed |
| 1956 | 279 | 455 | observed |
| 1957 | 246 | 497 | observed |
| 1958 | 245 | 496 | observed |
| 1959 | 259 | 487 | observed |
| 1960 | 237 | 515 | observed |
| 1961 | 249 | 504 | observed |
| 1962 | 288 | 470 | observed |
| 1963 | 288 | 464 | observed |
| 1964 | 284 | 470 | observed |
| 1965 | 215 | 522 | observed |
| 1966 | 239 | 490 | observed |
| 1967 | 216 | 511 | observed |
| 1968 | 246 | 483 | observed |
| 1969 | 234 | 508 | observed |
| 1970 | 221 | 546 | observed |
| 1971 | 242 | 522 | observed |
| 1972 | 183 | 589 | observed |
| 1973 | 194 | 570 | observed |
| 1974 | 195 | 575 | observed |
| 1975 | 183 | 596 | observed |
| 1976 | 189 | 591 | observed |
| 1977 | 214 | 573 | observed |
| 1978 | 226 | 555 | observed |
| 1979 | 225 | 571 | observed |
| 1980 | 242 | 548 | observed |
| 1981 | 218 | 579 | observed |
| 1982 | 237 | 559 | observed |
| 1983 | 276 | 507 | observed |
| 1984 | 293 | 490 | observed |
| 1985 | 275 | 527 | observed |
| 1986 | 297 | 512 | observed |
| 1987 | 326 | 490 | observed |
| 1988 | 415 | 443 | observed |
| 1989 | 389 | 486 | observed |
| 1990 | 451 | 463 | observed |
| 1991 | 454 | 463 | observed |
| 1992 | 503 | 438 | observed |
| 1993 | 504 | 437 | observed |
| 1994 | 573 | 402 | observed |
| 1995 | 511 | 446 | observed |
| 1996 | 469 | 462 | observed |
| 1997 | 428 | 493 | observed |
| 1998 | 424 | 505 | observed |
| 1999 | 392 | 528 | observed |
| 2000 | 363 | 567 | observed |
| 2001 | 395 | 545 | observed |
| 2002 | 357 | 589 | observed |
| 2003 | 325 | 631 | observed |
| 2004 | 300 | 675 | observed |
| 2005 | 272 | 742 | observed |
| 2006 | 270 | 769 | observed |
| 2007 | 269 | 800 | observed |
| 2008 | 245 | 866 | observed |
| 2009 | 231 | 898 | observed |
| 2010 | 299 | 755 | observed |
| 2011 | 307 | 737 | observed |
| 2012 | 350 | 675 | observed |
| 2013 | 441 | 582 | observed |
| 2014 | 552 | 507 | observed |
| 2015 | 595 | 493 | observed |
| 2016 | 671 | 458 | observed |
| 2017 | 713 | 433 | observed |
| 2018 | 783 | 409 | observed |
| 2019 | 753 | 410 | observed |
| 2020 | 768 | 399 | observed |
| 2021 | 844 | 382 | observed |
| 2022 | 803 | 397 | observed |
| 2023 | 792 | 403 | observed |
| 2024 | 885 | 370 | observed |
| 2025 | 944 | 345 | observed |
Statistics count the spelling “Sterling” as recorded by the publisher. When a spelling has several independent origins, the counts are not split between them. Counts measure applications. Gaps are years without a published value, not zeros.
Rates per million are unavailable for this series because no compatible denominator has been imported.
Retrieved 2026-10-15 · CC0-1.0
Read our methodology04 / Through time
People recorded with this given name in Wikidata. Their names may use a different spelling, or include it as a middle or baptismal name.
American actor (1916–1986)
American actor
American actor, singer, songwriter, director, comedian and musician
American musician (1942–1995)
American actor (1905–1992)
A little story to keep
Take the story of Sterling with you. Create a personal name passport with its meaning, roots and connections.
06 / Behind the facts
Review status: Source-reported — no editorial review recorded yet. Last data change 2026-10-15.
SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · CC0-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ontario first baby names, 1913–2023 (verified redistribution)
Government of Ontario; redistributed by helloharun · OGL-ON-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ontario top baby names, historical archive 1917–2013
Government of Ontario (Office of the Registrar General) · OGL-ON-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
British Columbia — 100 Years of Popular Baby Names (first names used 5 or more times), 1926-2025
Government of British Columbia, Vital Statistics Agency · OGL-BC (Open Government License - British Columbia; version not stated on the page) · retrieved 2026-10-15
South Australia — Popular Baby Names, per-year lists including names given once, 1944-2017
Attorney-General's Department, South Australia (via data.sa.gov.au) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Fichier des prénoms — édition 2026 (naissances 1900 à 2025), fichier national
Insee (Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques) · LO-2.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
Statistik Austria — Vornamen (OGDEXT_VORNAMEN_1): first names of live births, Austria, 1984-2025 (national counts from district rows)
Statistik Austria (Bundesanstalt Statistik Österreich) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Baby names in England and Wales: 2025 (boys and girls workbooks, Table 6: all published names)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
Finland — first given names of living Finnish citizens in Finland or abroad, 2026-08-03
Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
National Records of Scotland — Babies' First Names: all first forenames given to 3 or more babies, Scotland, 1974-2025
National Records of Scotland (NRS) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
NISRA — First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland, 1997-2025 (full list)
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Wiktionary text: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikidata: CC0. Commons recordings retain their individual file licences. Complete attribution is available in each group above and alongside each chart.
