Starling
A male given name transferred from the surname.
Every Starling since 1880 — 1,226 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
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.