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Polaris

♀ Girl

Pronounced puh-LAIR-is /pəˈlɛər.ɪs/High

Meaning: From Latin stella polaris, 'pole star' — the North Star that sits almost directly above Earth's axis and has guided navigators for centuries. A modern celestial word name.Medium

In 30 seconds: A star name: Polaris is the North Star, the fixed point sailors steered by (said 'puh-LAIR-is'). Latin for 'of the pole'.

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Origin MediumLatin

MeaningFrom Latin stella polaris, 'pole star' — the North Star that sits almost directly above Earth's axis and has guided navigators for centuries. A modern celestial word name.

U.S. rank (2024)#13086 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 44

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

Polaris is Latin for 'of the pole' — the North Star, fixed above Earth's axis and used for navigation for centuries. As a given name it is recent, riding the wave of celestial picks like Nova and Lyra, and it carries a sense of steadiness and direction (said 'puh-LAIR-is').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S. Rare, celestial, and steady.

Did you know? Polaris barely moves in the night sky because it sits almost exactly above Earth's axis — which is why it became the sailor's anchor point, and why the name suggests steadiness.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Polaris — Latin stella polaris, 'pole star'; the North Star

Variations

PolaraStellaPolara

Nicknames

PolaLariRis

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Polaris…

Lyra— a like celestial star name

Nova— a same-mood cosmic pick

Vega— another bright-star name

Celeste— a like 'heavenly' choice

Explore names like Polaris

By themelatin word-name nature celestial

By meaningStar Sky / Heaven Earth / Nature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Polaris mean?

Polaris means 'of the pole' in Latin — it is the name of the North Star, long used for navigation.

How do you pronounce Polaris?

It's said puh-LAIR-is /pəˈlɛər.ɪs/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Polaris a boy or girl name?

Polaris is used mainly as a girl's name, though as a star name it works for any child.

How popular is Polaris?

Polaris is a very rare name for girls in the U.S.