Sterling Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Sterling is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Sterling?
Sterling is spelled S-T-E-R-L-I-N-G. The name has 8 letters.
Sterling at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Sterling refers to a standard of purity in silver coins, historically associated with high quality.
- Origin
- Sterling is commonly associated with English origin and linked to the term used for silver coins of recognized quality in medieval times.
- Pronunciation
- STER-ling · 2 syllables
Sterling Popularity in 2025
Rank#1,098
Recorded Births218
Rank#345
Recorded Births944
- Girls usage rose 16 places to #1,098 and recorded 1 fewer birth compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 25 places to #345 and recorded 59 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Sterling Mean?
Sterling refers to a standard of purity in silver coins, historically associated with high quality.
Origin: Sterling is commonly associated with English origin and linked to the term used for silver coins of recognized quality in medieval times.
How Do You Pronounce Sterling?
PronunciationSTER-ling
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Sterling?
- History
- Sterling has been historically used as a surname and later as a given name, associated with qualities of excellence and reliability due to its connection to sterling silver currency.
Sterling Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 218 | #1,098 |
| 2025 | Boys | 944 | #345 |
| 2024 | Girls | 219 | #1,114 |
| 2024 | Boys | 885 | #370 |
| 2023 | Girls | 180 | #1,273 |
| 2023 | Boys | 792 | #403 |
| 2022 | Girls | 171 | #1,362 |
| 2022 | Boys | 803 | #397 |
| 2021 | Girls | 182 | #1,273 |
| 2021 | Boys | 844 | #382 |
| 2020 | Girls | 122 | #1,678 |
| 2020 | Boys | 768 | #399 |
| 2019 | Girls | 115 | #1,773 |
| 2019 | Boys | 753 | #410 |
| 2018 | Girls | 126 | #1,663 |
| 2018 | Boys | 783 | #409 |
| 2017 | Girls | 127 | #1,686 |
| 2017 | Boys | 713 | #433 |
| 2016 | Girls | 133 | #1,636 |
| 2016 | Boys | 671 | #458 |
| 2015 | Girls | 85 | #2,209 |
| 2015 | Boys | 595 | #493 |
| 2014 | Girls | 97 | #2,027 |
| 2014 | Boys | 552 | #507 |
When Was Sterling Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
944 recorded births
National rank #345
2024 · Boys
885 recorded births
National rank #370
2021 · Boys
844 recorded births
National rank #382
2022 · Boys
803 recorded births
National rank #397
Where Sterling Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| OK | #225 | 17 |
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| SD | #105 | 12 |
| MT | #127 | 10 |
| NE | #196 | 13 |
| WA | #213 | 37 |
| KY | #213 | 26 |
| HI | #214 | 5 |
| ND | #226 | 5 |
| NM | #236 | 8 |