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