Starling Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: STAR-ling //ˈstɑːr.lɪŋ//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: a type of bird; Latin: starling (the bird)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Starling has its roots in the Old English word "styrling," which refers to the small bird known for its iridescent plumage and remarkable flocking behavior. This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic *sturhlings, which is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as the Old High German "sturling" and the Old Norse "sturlingr." The transition into Middle English saw the term evolve into "starling," which was used to denote both the bird and, by extension, became a surname and given name in English-speaking regions.
Historically, the name Starling has been associated with various cultural and literary references. The starling bird itself has been noted in literature since at least the medieval period, often symbolizing adaptability and social behavior due to its unique flocking patterns.
In the 16th century, William Shakespeare referenced starlings in his works, highlighting their significance in the natural world and their metaphorical implications in human behavior. The name also appears in various historical records as a surname, indicating its use among families in England during the Middle Ages.
Culturally, the starling has been viewed as a symbol of communication and community, reflecting the bird's behavior of gathering in large groups. This association may have contributed to the name's endurance over time, as it evokes themes of togetherness and social interaction.
While diminutive forms or variations of the name are less documented, the connection to the avian world provides a rich backdrop for the name's significance. Overall, Starling encapsulates a blend of natural imagery and historical resonance, making it a name with deep linguistic and cultural roots.
Famous people named Starling
In this section, you will find notable people named Starling. 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 Starling who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Starling 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.
Starling Lawrence is an author best known for his novels The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Last Great American Novel, and The Book of the Dead.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Starling, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Starling. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Starling was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Starling has ranked as high as #7619 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in Georgia, New York, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
In the past 5 years the name Starling has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Starling 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 Starling was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Starling.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| 2024 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 2023 | 32 | 14 | 18 |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2021 | 18 | 6 | 12 |
| 2020 | 19 | 6 | 13 |
| 2019 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 2018 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 2017 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 | 21 | 9 | 12 |
| 2014 | 16 | 5 | 11 |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2012 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2011 | 15 | 7 | 8 |
| 2010 | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 2008 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 2006 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2000 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1992 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1990 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1983 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1981 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1979 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1978 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1976 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1975 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1974 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1973 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1972 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 1971 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1970 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1969 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1968 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1967 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1965 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1964 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1963 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1962 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1961 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1959 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1957 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1956 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1955 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1954 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1953 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1952 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1951 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1950 | 18 | 13 | 5 |
| 1949 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1948 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1947 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1946 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1945 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1944 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1943 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1942 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1941 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1940 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1939 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1938 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1937 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1936 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1935 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1934 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1933 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1932 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1931 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1930 | 22 | 16 | 6 |
| 1929 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1928 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1927 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1926 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1925 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1924 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1923 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1922 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1921 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1920 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1919 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1918 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1917 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1916 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1915 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1914 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1913 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1912 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1911 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1910 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1909 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1908 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1902 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1897 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1896 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1889 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1886 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1885 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1881 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1880 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Starling (1995)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 6 |