What does Emilia mean?
Emilia comes from the Roman Aemilia, usually read “rival” or “eager.”
What does Stella mean?
Stella is the Latin word for “star.” It was coined as a given name by the poet Sir Philip Sidney in the 16th century.
Emilia vs Stella
Which is more popular?
Emilia is more popular than Stella today: about 4,677 US babies were given the name Emilia in 2025, compared with 4,136 named Stella.
| Emilia | Stella | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Rival; eager | Star |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eh-MEEL-yuh | STEL-uh |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2021 (4,854) | 2018 (5,164) |
| In 2025 | 4,677 | 4,136 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Emilia
Stella
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Emilia | Stella |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 28,338 | 27,117 |
| 2010s | 24,348 | 44,225 |
| 2000s | 6,348 | 11,843 |
| 1990s | 2,209 | 1,798 |
| 1980s | 1,360 | 1,867 |
| 1970s | 726 | 2,563 |
| 1960s | 718 | 4,957 |
| 1950s | 686 | 8,591 |
| 1940s | 691 | 11,363 |
| 1930s | 798 | 11,206 |
| 1920s | 1,212 | 25,899 |
| 1910s | 895 | 28,526 |
| 1900s | 376 | 11,014 |
| 1890s | 238 | 9,807 |
| 1880s | 133 | 6,130 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Emilia or Stella more popular?
Emilia is more popular than Stella today: about 4,677 US babies were given the name Emilia in 2025, compared with 4,136 named Stella.
What is the difference between Emilia and Stella?
Emilia means Rival; eager (Latin origin), while Stella means Star (Latin origin).
Which name is older, Emilia or Stella?
In US records, Emilia first appears in 1880 and Stella in 1880, so Emilia has the longer recorded history.