What does Estrella mean?
The Spanish word for 'star', from Latin 'stella'. Also associated with the Marian title Nuestra Señora de la Estrella (Our Lady of the Star).
What does Mercedes mean?
Mercedes means “mercies,” from Our Lady of Mercy.
Estrella vs Mercedes
Which is more popular?
Mercedes is more popular than Estrella today: about 150 US babies were given the name Mercedes in 2025, compared with 0 named Estrella.
| Estrella | Mercedes | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Star | Mercies |
| Origin | spanish | Spanish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | es-TREH-yah | mer-SEH-dess |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2005 (1,105) | 1991 (1,798) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 150 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Estrella
Mercedes
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Estrella | Mercedes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,577 | 1,025 |
| 2010s | 4,404 | 2,950 |
| 2000s | 6,587 | 8,454 |
| 1990s | 1,810 | 15,291 |
| 1980s | 737 | 4,410 |
| 1970s | 309 | 1,985 |
| 1960s | 120 | 1,699 |
| 1950s | 116 | 1,741 |
| 1940s | 46 | 1,368 |
| 1930s | 33 | 1,858 |
| 1920s | 41 | 2,828 |
| 1910s | 19 | 1,767 |
| 1900s | 0 | 530 |
| 1890s | 0 | 226 |
| 1880s | 0 | 74 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Estrella or Mercedes more popular?
Mercedes is more popular than Estrella today: about 150 US babies were given the name Mercedes in 2025, compared with 0 named Estrella.
What is the difference between Estrella and Mercedes?
Estrella means Star (spanish origin), while Mercedes means Mercies (Spanish origin).
Which name is older, Estrella or Mercedes?
In US records, Estrella first appears in 0 and Mercedes in 1880, so Estrella has the longer recorded history.