Starling: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,753

among boys · ↑4,026 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Starling

How common

1 in 131,390

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2023

32 babies

All-time total

1,226

#5,138 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Starling popularity over time

1,226 babies have been named Starling since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	29	29	3	–	#828
1890s	–	12	12	1	-59%	#932
1900s	–	25	25	3	+108%	#774
1910s	–	123	123	12	+392%	#1,370
1920s	–	155	155	16	+26%	#1,497
1930s	6	125	131	13	-15%	#1,818
1940s	5	125	130	13	-1%	#1,843
1950s	10	98	108	11	-17%	#2,183
1960s	5	52	57	6	-47%	#2,688
1970s	16	57	73	7	+28%	#3,660
1980s	–	31	31	3	-58%	#4,416
1990s	5	41	46	5	+48%	#5,858
2000s	29	37	66	7	+43%	#7,321
2010s	83	45	128	13	+94%	#8,643
2020s (to 2025)	66	46	112	19	+46%	#6,463

The story of Starling

Starling is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,753 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 1,226 American babies have been named Starling, about 82% boys and 18% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 32 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2020s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Starling stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Starling?

The median living Starling is about 32 years old; half are between 10 and 66. An estimated 700 people named Starling are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Starling year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	8	#11,806	13	#6,753
2024	6	#15,043	7	#10,779
2023	18	#6,642	14	#6,463
2022	9	#11,137	–	–
2021	12	#8,919	6	#11,947
2020	13	#8,359	6	#11,836
2019	10	#10,390	5	#13,872
2018	6	#15,445	8	#9,547
2017	9	#11,514	5	#13,983
2016	5	#18,549	–	–
2015	12	#9,424	9	#8,643
2014	11	#10,068	5	#13,792
2013	6	#16,303	–	–
2012	8	#13,327	–	–
2011	8	#13,209	7	#10,628
2010	8	#13,319	6	#11,998
2009	5	#19,841	5	#14,215
2008	7	#15,204	5	#14,326
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	5	#13,747
2005	–	–	8	#8,979
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	7	#13,670	–	–
2002	10	#10,145	–	–
2001	–	–	5	#12,074
2000	–	–	9	#7,321
1995	–	–	10	#5,858
1990	–	–	6	#7,988
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	5	#10,371	–	–
1970	–	–	6	#4,662
1965	5	#7,387	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	8	#3,173
1950	5	#6,005	13	#2,190
1945	–	–	15	#1,846
1940	–	–	14	#1,976
1935	–	–	10	#2,511
1930	6	#4,500	16	#1,952
1925	–	–	18	#1,928
1920	–	–	26	#1,497
1915	–	–	15	#1,957
1910	–	–	6	#1,564
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	7	#828
1880	–	–	5	#1,043

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Starling, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Starling?

The median living Starling is about 32 years old. Half of all living Starlings are between 10 and 66 years old.

How many people named Starling are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Starling are alive in the United States, based on 1,226 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Starling mean?

A male given name transferred from the surname.

How popular is the name Starling in 2025?

Starling ranked #6,753 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Starling?

1,226 babies have been named Starling in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Starling most popular?

Starling peaked in 2023, when 32 newborns received the name.

Is Starling a boy or girl name?

Starling is used for both: about 18% of babies named Starling have been girls and 82% boys.

Is the name Starling rising or falling?

Starling is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Starling

Names that sound and feel close to Starling: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Starling with similar names → More names starting with S →