A stellar superstar who paved the way for Nova, Luna, and all of their variants, #39 Stella is a favorite of many, a space-themed baby name that took off in the 2000s. She’s beloved for her feminine charm by so many families with little Stellas of their own, a lovely example of what some expecting parents love in a baby girl name. But is Stella really worth all the buzz? Does she have even less staying power than her trendy counterparts, Luna and Nova? Or is Stella a gorgeous celestial trendsetter that will certainly persist for decades to come? This week, I’m taking a close up peek at the ins and outs, pros and cons, upsides and downfalls of Stella. Right on over to the article!
Pros
Space names are all over the place nowadays. Orion and Andromeda are plastered all over baby naming forums, Luna and Atlas are being chosen in impressive numbers all over the world, and Phoenix and Juno are home with their large numbers of celebaby namesakes. And this celestial (era, dare I say) all began with one little name with a sound to shock and a space-related sound and meaning. You’ve guessed it by now: Stella. Stella was one of the first stellar superstars that rose in such huge numbers, beloved both for her accessible sound and that glorious galactic vibe. Since her revival from her 1900s reign, where she ranked at #68, Stella has captured the hearts of families and inspired many other names like her to begin to rise.
And as I mentioned previously, Stella’s sound helped launch her and her celestial crew, and is continuing to move other parents to choosing her for their little girls too. She has the very obvious -ella ending, that of Isabella, Bella, Ella, and Gabriella that were at their peaks when began to really make a dent in the late 2000s and early 2010s. While that helped lure her from her hiding spot below the top 1000, the graceful sophistication and feminine elegance of the fluid Ls and soft but sweet and serene classic -a ending still snag the heartstrings of many a growing family.
In addition to this sweet sound and wonderful galactic touch, Stella also has that touch of vintage appeal. While most of that has faded due to her plentiful 21st century use, it still contributes to her appeal for tons of couples. Her popularity in the 1900s gives Stella that hint of a glamorous tea party in a gleaming room with rose wallpaper, though I personally think of an eight year old little girl instead. Many of the -ella names Stella rose to power with also had that same twinge of retro accompanying them as well, making Stella fit in perfectly with the trends of her first few years in the spotlight. However, Stella has now separated from them into a category she helped lead to success, which would be the space-themed names. Either way, Stella has some lovely aspects that helped lead her to power, and some equally wonderful characteristics that led her to become the trendsetter she is today. Finally, let’s discuss Stella’s ties to space. Of course, her sound resembles that of words that contain her sound components, such as stellar and constellation. However, it’s her meaning that gives her that association with space. This Latin beauty means “star,” referring potentially to both stardom and fame or the celestial stars.
Cons
Alright, but let’s be honest, no name can be as perfect as that, right? Vintage, -ella, feminine, space…. There’s got to be some negatives. And right you are. Although these may only be some minor inconveniences, let’s talk about associations. The beer brand, Stella Artois, may come to mind, which is obviously not the most ideal association for many parents to bestow upon their little baby daughter. In addition to that, there’s Stella from A Streetcar Called Desire, who many folks may have embedded in their heads (think Marlon Brando’s ‘STELLLLLLLAAH’), who you may or may not encounter plenty of people who repeat this iconic line when introduced to your daughter. Anyway, there’s not a giant pool of honorable or even neutral Stellas that you would want to place the legacy of on your daughter’s shoulders, so I would definitely choose something different if you’re looking for a name with a strong namesake *ehem my article from last week cough cough*. And #39 is very popular, if you’re hoping to stay away from popularity. Despite her mystical solar beauty, Stella is actually very mainstream, a realization that isn’t very pleasant for a few families in a world where being unique and different matters, even in baby naming.
But although Stella stays upright and popular thanks to that space-y trend she's begun, her -ella friends are starting to fall, making half of her appeal begin to wither. With her sound no longer at the top of the charts and her vintage appeal stripped from modern day use but her popularity still climbing due to her celestial twist, Stella promises to be even more popular than she was in the 2000s, yet without the added appeal of a positive sound for the trends. Basically, if we’re to use the analogy of an apple for sale, the apple is even more expensive than it was a couple weeks ago, yet it has a couple bruises on it that the old apple never had and the same amazing taste. So essentially, parents who choose Stella are giving up more individuality for a name that just doesn’t have the same maximum desirability any longer.
Predictions For Stella:
I think that Stella’s bound to fall. Although she actually peaked in 2018, I fear that her fellow -ella names falling may lessen her appeal to the point where parents just aren’t willing to sacrifice that longing for uniqueness anymore. While I see the beauty and the elegance behind the name Stella, I personally am not a giant fan. I much prefer Twila, which has the same evening and space vibes for me yet with a more serene sound. However, I think that Stella is a perfectly wonderful and appropriate name for now if you wish to choose it for your own little girl. I hope you enjoyed, and have a wonderful rest of your day!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon