Sterling
From the English word for the silver standard, and also a surname. The word is usually traced to a medieval name for a small silver penny, possibly from a star stamped on it.
Sterling in 2025
Sterling was given to 1,162 babies in the United States in 2025 — 944 boys and 218 girls, making it the 569th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 2,853 babies born.
The history of Sterling
Sterling reached its highest point in 2025, when 1,162 babies were given the name, ranking 569th that year.
Across the 146 years of records since 1880, 41,197 babies have been named Sterling. Half of them were born before 1991, which places the name's centre of gravity with Millennials.
Sterling by decade
| Decade | Babies named Sterling | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 168 | 817 |
| 1890s | 233 | 798 |
| 1900s | 352 | 900 |
| 1910s | 1,622 | 763 |
| 1920s | 2,580 | 751 |
| 1930s | 1,930 | 780 |
| 1940s | 2,383 | 808 |
| 1950s | 2,597 | 926 |
| 1960s | 2,544 | 1,027 |
| 1970s | 2,183 | 1,138 |
| 1980s | 3,225 | 921 |
| 1990s | 5,278 | 757 |
| 2000s | 3,576 | 1,074 |
| 2010s | 6,398 | 724 |
| 2020s | 6,128 | 569 |
Where Sterling is heading
Sterling has risen 71% over the past decade, from 680 babies in 2015 to 1,162 in 2025.
Names like Sterling
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Sterling.