Stirling: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,517

among boys · ↑1,632 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Stirling · -8% vs 2024

How common

1 in 74,264

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2017

27 babies

All-time total

929

#5,690 all-time among boys

First recorded

1912

in Social Security records

Stirling popularity over time

929 babies have been named Stirling since 1912, 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	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	29	29	3	–	#2,508
1920s	–	55	55	6	+90%	#2,891
1930s	–	30	30	3	-45%	#3,079
1940s	–	44	44	4	+47%	#1,935
1950s	–	41	41	4	-7%	#2,999
1960s	–	58	58	6	+41%	#2,351
1970s	–	48	48	5	-17%	#3,799
1980s	–	47	47	5	-2%	#4,300
1990s	16	114	130	13	+177%	#3,713
2000s	25	109	134	13	+3%	#5,508
2010s	14	174	188	19	+40%	#4,274
2020s (to 2025)	23	102	125	21	+11%	#4,517

Where Stirling is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	24	0.01	outside top 500
2027	24	0.01	outside top 500
2028	24	0.01	outside top 500
2029	25	0.01	outside top 500
2030	25	0.01	outside top 500

The story of Stirling

Stirling is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,517 in 2025 with 23 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1912, 929 American babies have been named Stirling, about 92% boys and 8% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2017, when 27 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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 Stirling stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Stirling?

The median living Stirling is about 22 years old; half are between 8 and 36. An estimated 800 people named Stirling 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.

Stirling 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	–	–	23	#4,517
2024	10	#10,183	15	#6,149
2023	–	–	21	#4,864
2022	–	–	12	#7,200
2021	8	#12,071	13	#6,628
2020	5	#17,221	18	#5,200
2019	–	–	17	#5,526
2018	7	#13,645	18	#5,287
2017	7	#13,944	20	#4,913
2016	–	–	21	#4,751
2015	–	–	24	#4,274
2014	–	–	17	#5,453
2013	–	–	16	#5,620
2012	–	–	11	#7,481
2011	–	–	14	#6,203
2010	–	–	16	#5,696
2009	5	#19,851	–	–
2008	–	–	14	#6,355
2007	–	–	11	#7,519
2006	–	–	10	#7,915
2005	–	–	11	#7,038
2004	7	#14,012	14	#5,755
2003	–	–	14	#5,508
2002	7	#13,443	12	#6,024
2001	6	#15,107	12	#5,965
2000	–	–	11	#6,252
1995	–	–	17	#3,823
1990	–	–	13	#4,371
1985	–	–	10	#4,300
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	7	#4,733
1970	–	–	8	#3,799
1965	–	–	6	#3,880
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	8	#2,839
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	7	#3,554
1925	–	–	6	#4,139
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	5	#4,324
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Stirling

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Stirling Moss British racing driver (1929–2020) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Stirling?

The median living Stirling is about 22 years old. Half of all living Stirlings are between 8 and 36 years old.

How many people named Stirling are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Stirling are alive in the United States, based on 929 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Stirling mean?

Borrowed from Middle Scots Stirveling, from Early Scots Strivelin, Strivelyn, likely from Old Irish sreb, srib (“stream”) + linn (“pool, lake”).

How popular is the name Stirling in 2025?

Stirling ranked #4,517 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 23 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Stirling?

929 babies have been named Stirling in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Stirling most popular?

Stirling peaked in 2017, when 27 newborns received the name.

Is Stirling a boy or girl name?

Stirling is used for both: about 8% of babies named Stirling have been girls and 92% boys.

Is the name Stirling rising or falling?

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

Will Stirling become more popular?

Stirling is trending upward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 25 boys named Stirling in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Stirling?

Well-known people named Stirling include Stirling Moss (racing driver).

Names like Stirling

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

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