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Home › Baby Names Directory › Celesta

Celesta

♀ Girl

Pronounced suh-LES-tuh /səˈlɛs.tə/Medium

Meaning: From the Latin caelestis, 'heavenly; of the sky' — a sister form to Celeste and Celestina. Celesta is also the name of a small keyboard instrument with a shimmering, bell-like tone.Medium

In 30 seconds: A luminous Latin name: Celesta means 'heavenly' — and names a bell-toned instrument too (said 'suh-LES-tuh').
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Origin MediumLatin, Italian
MeaningFrom the Latin caelestis, 'heavenly; of the sky' — a sister form to Celeste and Celestina. Celesta is also the name of a small keyboard instrument with a shimmering, bell-like tone.
U.S. rank (2024)#13778 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1921
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,136

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192118812024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Celesta comes from the Latin caelestis, 'heavenly; of the sky,' kin to Celeste and Celestina. It is also the name of a keyboard instrument invented in Paris in 1886, whose bell-like tone Tchaikovsky used for the Sugar Plum Fairy. Radiant and old-rooted (said 'suh-LES-tuh').

In the U.S. it appears rarely, well behind Celeste. Rare, luminous, and classic.

Did you know? The celesta is the silvery instrument behind the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy — so the name carries both 'heavenly' and a shimmer of bells (said 'suh-LES-tuh').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Celesta — Latin caelestis 'heavenly'; celesta instrument

Variations

CelesteCelestinaCelestine

Nicknames

CelyLessie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Celesta…

Celeste— the standard form beside it
Celestina— a like Latin 'heavenly' name
Seraphina— a like celestial three-beat pick
Aurora— a like sky-and-light name

Explore names like Celesta

By themelatinclassiccelestialmusic
By meaningSky / Heaven

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Celesta mean?

Celesta comes from the Latin caelestis, 'heavenly; of the sky.' It is also a keyboard instrument with a bell-like tone.

How do you pronounce Celesta?

It's said suh-LES-tuh /səˈlɛs.tə/ — three syllables, stress on the middle.

Is Celesta a boy or girl name?

Celesta is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Celesta?

Celesta is rare in the U.S., far behind Celeste.

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