Is Estela a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Estela is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Estela?

It's currently ranked #835 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Estela?

es-TAY-lah · IPA: /ɛsˈteɪ.lə/

Estela Girl

Popularity: #835 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: es-TAY-lah /ɛsˈteɪ.lə/

Origin: Spanish; Latin

Meaning: Spanish: star; Latin: stellar

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Estela has its roots in the Latin word "stella," meaning "star." This Latin term was derived from the earlier Proto-Indo-European root *h₂stḗr, which also signifies "star." The transition from Latin to various Romance languages, including Spanish and Portuguese, led to the evolution of the name Estela, which is commonly used in these cultures. The name entered the English language through the influence of Spanish and Portuguese explorers and settlers, particularly during the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Historically, the name Estela has been associated with various cultural and religious contexts. In Christian tradition, stars often symbolize guidance and divinity, reflecting the biblical Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus.

The name has been borne by several notable figures throughout history, including saints and literary characters, which has contributed to its enduring presence in various cultures. The use of Estela in literature and art has further solidified its significance, with references appearing in works from the medieval period onward.

Culturally, Estela resonates with themes of hope, aspiration, and illumination, making it a favored choice in many Spanish-speaking countries. The name is often associated with beauty and inspiration, drawing on the celestial imagery of stars.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as Estelita have emerged, reflecting affectionate or familial uses of the name. Overall, Estela embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural heritage, symbolizing both the celestial and the earthly.

Famous people named Estela

In this section, you will find notable people named Estela. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Estela who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Estela who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Estela Warren is a model and actress best known for her roles in Planet of the Apes, The Whole Nine Yards, and The Cat in the Hat.

Estela Rodriguez is a singer best known for her work in Latin music and her collaborations with various artists.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Estela, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Elena Isabella Sofia Lucia Clara Gabriela

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Estela. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

Stella Estelle Selena Evelyn Adela Nina Mirella Luna

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Estela was first seen in the United States in 1903.

Estela has ranked as high as #1259 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Estela has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Estela is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Estela was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Estela (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	28	45%
CA	24	39%
CO	5	8%
NY	5	8%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Estela.

Year	Births
2024	115
2023	133
2022	134
2021	112
2020	96
2019	126
2018	87
2017	95
2016	73
2015	96
2014	76
2013	68
2012	88
2011	88
2010	75
2009	81
2008	84
2007	86
2006	73
2005	74
2004	82
2003	89
2002	83
2001	89
2000	98
1999	88
1998	89
1997	99
1996	97
1995	86
1994	80
1993	92
1992	92
1991	96
1990	120
1989	85
1988	81
1987	83
1986	80
1985	78
1984	79
1983	83
1982	94
1981	105
1980	100
1979	114
1978	80
1977	95
1976	106
1975	81
1974	102
1973	92
1972	93
1971	89
1970	77
1969	79
1968	82
1967	89
1966	63
1965	90
1964	91
1963	81
1962	79
1961	74
1960	74
1959	97
1958	99
1957	95
1956	81
1955	118
1954	100
1953	94
1952	121
1951	93
1950	109
1949	124
1948	92
1947	61
1946	86
1945	62
1944	78
1943	62
1942	54
1941	53
1940	48
1939	70
1938	60
1937	55
1936	67
1935	50
1934	80
1933	59
1932	82
1931	70
1930	68
1929	78
1928	73
1927	72
1926	63
1925	67
1924	40
1923	47
1922	37
1921	51
1920	40
1919	31
1918	34
1917	37
1916	15
1915	24
1914	13
1913	16
1912	8
1911	11
1910	6
1907	5
1906	6
1905	6
1903	11