Sterl
Variant of Sterling, either "little star" from Old English or "of East Sterling" from a surname of locational origin.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Sterl. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Sterl today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sterl births was 1921 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sterl. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Sterl. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1921
8 babies that year
Average age
-
1929 SSA rank
#4,469
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Sterl: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Sterl 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 Sterl during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Sterl
The name Sterl is believed to have originated from the Old English word "steorran," which means "star." This suggests that the name may have been derived from a word related to celestial bodies or astronomical phenomena. It is possible that the name was initially given to individuals who were born under a significant astrological event or who had a particular connection to the stars.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sterl can be traced back to the 12th century in England. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Sterle" or "Sterlynge." It is thought that the name gained popularity among the Anglo-Saxon population, particularly in rural areas where celestial events held significant cultural and spiritual significance.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Sterl de Mandeville was recorded as a knight and landowner in England. While specific details about his life are scarce, his name suggests that the name Sterl was already in use among the nobility and upper classes during that time.
During the Renaissance period, the name Sterl appeared in several literary works, though its usage remained relatively uncommon. One notable example is the character Sterl Peveril, who appeared in Sir Walter Scott's novel "Peveril of the Peak," published in 1823. This fictional character was depicted as a strong-willed and independent individual, potentially reflecting the astrological associations of the name.
In the 19th century, a notable individual named Sterl Phinney (1825-1909) gained recognition as an American politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois between 1867 and 1869. Another notable figure was Sterl Maloney (1865-1940), a professional baseball player who played for several teams in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In more recent times, the name Sterl has been relatively uncommon, but a few notable individuals have carried this name. Sterl Artley (1891-1977) was an American educator and author who developed the Artley literacy program, which was widely used in schools across the United States. Additionally, Sterl Paulsen (1912-1997) was an American artist and painter known for his landscape and abstract works.
While the name Sterl has its roots in Old English and celestial associations, it has remained a relatively rare name throughout history. However, the individuals who have carried this name have often been associated with notable achievements in various fields, potentially reflecting the astrological and astronomical origins of the name.
People
Sterl + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sterl 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
Sterl: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sterl?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sterl 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 - US residents.
Is Sterl a common name?
We classify Sterl as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sterl most popular?
The single biggest year for Sterl was 1921, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sterl is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Sterl in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Sterl a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sterl in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Sterl still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Sterl in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Sterl can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Sterl?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.