| Stella | Clara | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Star | Bright, clear |
| Origin | latin | Latin |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | STEL-uh | KLAIR-uh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2018 (5,164) | 1918 (5,778) |
| In 2025 | 4,136 | 3,601 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Stella | Clara |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 27,117 | 17,277 |
| 2010s | 44,225 | 26,657 |
| 2000s | 11,843 | 12,789 |
| 1990s | 1,798 | 6,266 |
| 1980s | 1,867 | 3,668 |
| 1970s | 2,563 | 3,290 |
| 1960s | 4,957 | 6,505 |
| 1950s | 8,591 | 12,768 |
| 1940s | 11,363 | 20,028 |
| 1930s | 11,206 | 31,658 |
| 1920s | 25,899 | 48,183 |
| 1910s | 28,526 | 44,346 |
| 1900s | 11,014 | 23,899 |
| 1890s | 9,807 | 25,473 |
| 1880s | 6,130 | 17,717 |
Directly from the Latin word 'stella' meaning 'star'. It is the clearest, least disputed star name, used in Latin literature and revived in English since the Renaissance (notably by Sir Philip Sidney).
From the Latin clarus, “bright” or “clear.” Saint Clare of Assisi carried the name.
Stella is more popular than Clara today: about 4,136 US babies were given the name Stella in 2025, compared with 3,601 named Clara.
Stella means Star (latin origin), while Clara means Bright, clear (Latin origin).
In US records, Stella first appears in 1880 and Clara in 1880, so Stella has the longer recorded history.