Celestina
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "heavenly" or "celestial".
Name Census estimates that about 1,724 living Americans carry the first name Celestina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Celestina today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Celestina births was 1998 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Celestina. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.7K
~ 1 in 198,813 Americans
Peak year
1998
52 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,035
Tracked since 1892
Popularity
Celestina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Celestina from the 1890s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 325 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Celestina remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Celestina by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Celestina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Celestinas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. Texas, California, Arizona recorded the most babies named Celestina, while Michigan, Colorado, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 133 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Celestina
The name Celestina has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the Latin word "caelestis," which means "heavenly" or "celestial." This name emerged during the late Roman period and was likely inspired by the celestial deities and astronomical themes that were prominent in Roman mythology and culture.
During the Middle Ages, the name Celestina gained popularity in various parts of Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. It was often associated with the Catholic Church and religious devotion, as the name itself evoked a connection with the heavens and the divine realm.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Celestina can be found in a 15th-century Spanish novel titled "La Celestina" by Fernando de Rojas. The story revolves around a character named Celestina, who plays a pivotal role as a procuress and intermediary between two lovers. This literary work is considered a masterpiece of Spanish literature and has had a significant influence on the popularity of the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Celestina. One such example is Celestina Devi (1847-1905), an Indian educator and social reformer who established one of the first schools for girls in Calcutta, India. Another prominent figure was Celestina Cuenca (1918-2014), a Venezuelan artist and sculptor known for her abstract and geometric works.
In the field of literature, Celestina Vigneaux (1914-1978) was a French writer and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Additionally, Celestina Boninsegna (1910-1992) was an Italian composer and pianist who made significant contributions to contemporary classical music.
The name Celestina has also been carried by historical figures in various fields, such as Celestina Ramírez (1881-1956), a Mexican educator and activist who played a crucial role in establishing public schools in her home state of Oaxaca.
While the name Celestina has its roots in Latin and has been present throughout history, it has maintained a timeless quality, evoking associations with the celestial realm and a divine connection. The name has been embraced by individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting its universal appeal and enduring significance.
People
Celestina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Celestina as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Celestina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Celestina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,724 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Celestina going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 198,813 US residents.
Is Celestina a common name?
We classify Celestina as "Rare". It ranks above 93.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,522 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Celestina most popular?
The single biggest year for Celestina was 1998, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Celestina is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Celestina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Celestina in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.