Starla
A feminine name meaning "star" of English origin.
Name Census estimates that about 7,239 living Americans carry the first name Starla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Starla today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Starla births was 1980 (243 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Starla. 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
7.2K
~ 1 in 47,348 Americans
Peak year
1980
243 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,801
Tracked since 1942
Popularity
Starla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Starla from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 1,813 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Starla 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 Starla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Starlas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 31 states and territories. California, Texas, Oklahoma recorded the most babies named Starla, while Wyoming, New York, Utah recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 147 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Starla
The name Starla is an English feminine given name derived from the word "star." It is believed to have originated in the United States in the early 20th century, possibly as a combination of the words "star" and the common feminine name ending "-la."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Starla can be traced back to 1908 when it appeared in a newspaper article from Missouri. However, it did not gain widespread popularity until the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s.
While the name Starla does not have any direct historical or religious references, it is often associated with the celestial motif of stars, which have held significance in various cultures throughout history. Stars have been revered as symbols of guidance, hope, and beauty, which may have contributed to the appeal of this name.
Notable individuals who have borne the name Starla include Starla Benford (born in 1955), an American actress known for her roles in television shows like "The Jeffersons" and "What's Happening!!" Starla Greer (born in 1979) is an American model and actress who has appeared in various television shows and films.
Another notable Starla is Starla Vaughns Dortch (born in 1972), an American lawyer and civil rights activist. She has been involved in various legal battles related to voting rights and racial discrimination. Starla Lewis (born in 1966) is a Canadian country music singer and songwriter who has released several albums and singles.
Starla Vaughns Dortch, an American lawyer and civil rights activist, was born in 1972 and has been involved in various legal battles related to voting rights and racial discrimination, making significant contributions to the fight for equality and justice.
It's worth noting that while the name Starla gained popularity in the mid-20th century, its usage has declined in recent decades. However, its celestial connotation and unique sound continue to make it a distinctive and intriguing choice for parents seeking a name with a touch of celestial whimsy.
People
Starla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Starla as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Starla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Starla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7,239 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Starla 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 47,348 US residents.
Is Starla a common name?
We classify Starla as "Rare". It ranks above 97.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 8,206 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Starla most popular?
The single biggest year for Starla was 1980, when 243 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Starla is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Starla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Starla 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.