Stella

Some parents want a name that twinkles. Others want one that can survive a job interview. Stella, rather cleverly, does both.

It comes from Latin and means star, which is about as bright a meaning as you'll find anywhere on a shortlist. It's the kind of name that makes grandparents go misty-eyed and small children feel very important when they learn what it means. And unlike some celestial names, it doesn't feel like a costume. Stella is sturdy, grown-up and easy to say, with that crisp double L giving it a bit of a snap.

The nicknames hiding in plain sight

Here's the neat trick. Look closely and you'll find two perfectly good nicknames already living inside the name:

• Ella, soft and sweet, for the everyday
• Elle, sleek and a little chic, for when she's older and wants something shorter

No inventing required, no awkward stretch from one to the other. It's like buying a coat and discovering it comes with a spare pair of gloves in the pocket. Parents who worry about being stuck with a single form of a name will find Stella generously flexible.

More starry in some skies than others

Stella shines brightest a long way from where you might expect. It's #40 in New Zealand (2024) and #42 in the United States (2020), then #58 in Canada and #59 in Australia (2025). From there it fades gently: #125 in Brazil, #217 in France, #308 in England & Wales and #447 in Catalonia.

For anyone naming a baby in England or Wales, that's rather appealing. Stella is well known and instantly recognisable, but you're unlikely to find a queue of them at the school gate. A familiar name that still feels a touch special is a rare thing indeed.

The name has also been carried with real style. Stella McCartney, the British fashion designer, gives it a polished, creative edge. Stella Adler, the American actress and acting teacher, and Stella Stevens, the American actress, lend it some classic screen glamour, while Stella Mwangi, the Kenyan-Norwegian singer, rapper and songwriter, shows it can hold a stage and a microphone too.

If you're building a family of names, Stella sits comfortably beside Leo, Oliver, Luna and Clara, a set with a warm, vintage feel that never tips into fusty. Say Stella and Luna together and you've got a pair that sounds almost made for each other.

Of course, the hardest part of naming a baby isn't finding a good name; it's the fact that there are hundreds of them, and every one looks lovely at two in the morning. But if you want a name that's bright, grown-up and comes with its own built-in nicknames, Stella deserves a proper look. Consider it a star to steer by.