Estelle
Girl name · #573 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Estelle? In official American birth records, Estelle has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 523 baby girls were named Estelle, placing it at #573 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #815, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,442 girls born in 2025 was named Estelle.
The 145-year story
Estelle first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 119 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1915, when 1,784 girls were named Estelle — good for #117 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Estelle per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Estelle against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Estelle in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Estelle is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Estelle is most common
Geography matters for names, and Estelle is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Estelle is most common in WI (0.8 per 1,000), MN (0.7 per 1,000), MI (0.7 per 1,000), PA (0.6 per 1,000), CO (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Estelle is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Estelle
Statistically, parents drawn to Estelle tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lucille, Belle, Estella, Adele, and Nellie.
LucilleBelleEstellaAdeleNellieGoldieEleanoreHattie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Estelle | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 523 | #573 |
| 2024 | 462 | #641 |
| 2023 | 398 | #710 |
| 2022 | 405 | #723 |
| 2021 | 380 | #750 |
| 2020 | 340 | #799 |
| 2019 | 351 | #789 |
| 2018 | 326 | #833 |
| 2017 | 348 | #789 |
| 2016 | 343 | #837 |
| 2015 | 344 | #815 |
| 2014 | 301 | #905 |
| 2013 | 258 | #974 |
| 2012 | 265 | #958 |
| 2011 | 199 | #1204 |
| 2010 | 158 | #1438 |
| 2009 | 159 | #1463 |
| 2008 | 109 | #1927 |
| 2007 | 106 | #1940 |
| 2006 | 96 | #2050 |
| 2005 | 118 | #1681 |
| 2004 | 103 | #1835 |
| 2003 | 70 | #2368 |
| 2002 | 69 | #2331 |
| 2001 | 73 | #2211 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Estelle?
In official American birth records, the name Estelle first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 119 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Estelle a popular girl name?
Estelle ranked #573 among girls in 2025 with 523 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #815.
When was the name Estelle most popular?
Estelle peaked in 1915, when 1,784 American girls received the name (ranked #117 that year). Since 1915 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Estelle?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,442 newborn American girls was named Estelle. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.