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The short answer
Sterling is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From a Scots surname that was derived from city of Stirling, which is itself of unknown meaning. The name can also be given in reference to the English word sterling meaning ‘excellent’." It ranked #346 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from a Scots surname that was derived from city of Stirling, which is itself of unknown meaning. The name can also be given in reference to the English word sterling meaning ‘excellent’. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: uncertain
Popularity
Sterling ranked #346 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #346 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Sterling in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sterling mean?
Behind the Name does not give Sterling a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from a Scots surname that was.
Is Sterling a popular name?
Sterling ranked #346 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Sterling a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Sterling appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Sterling — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
