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Estela

♀ Girl

Pronounced ehs-TEH-la /es.ˈte.la/Medium

Meaning: StarMedium

In 30 seconds: Estela is the Portuguese form of the name meaning 'star'. It carries the same celestial sense as Stella in a softer, three-syllable shape.

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Origin MediumPortuguese, Spanish

MeaningStar

U.S. rank (2025)#1624 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births128 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,146

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Estela means 'star' and comes through Portuguese, sharing its root with the Latin Stella and the French Estelle. The opening e and gentle vowels give the Iberian form its warm, rolling sound. The star meaning has kept the name and its relatives in lasting use.

Within its family Estela sits between the trimmed Stela and the full Stella, showing how the same starry root is dressed up or pared down. Argentine human rights activist Estela de Carlotto, longtime president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, carries the Portuguese-style spelling.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Estela is 'star', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Estela — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

StelaEstelStellaEstelleEssie

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Estela de Carlotto (b. 1930)
Argentine human rights activist and president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo; recipient of the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights.

If you like Estela…

Stella— The Latin form of the same 'star' name.

Estelle— The French relative of Estela sharing the star meaning.

Essie— A short, affectionate form connected to Estela in its variation list.

Esther— Another name traditionally linked to the idea of a star.

Explore names like Estela

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By meaningStar

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Estela mean?

Estela is usually explained as meaning 'star' and is most often linked with Portuguese tradition.

How do you pronounce Estela?

It's commonly said ehs-TEH-la /es.ˈte.la/.

Is Estela a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Estela is used as a girl name.

How popular is Estela?

In 2024, Estela ranked #1749 in the U.S. for girls, with 115 births recorded.