Estelle is a feminine given name of French origin, derived from the French word "étoile," which means "star." The name has been used in France since the Middle Ages and was often bestowed upon children born under unusual or remarkable circumstances.
The name Estelle gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the late 19th century, likely due to its musical connotations. In French literature, it was made famous by Honoré de Balzac's novel "Père Goriot," in which one of the main characters is named Estelle. Additionally, the name has been used in several operas and other musical works, such as "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi.
Estelle was also a popular given name among French royalty throughout history. For example, Estelle de Roussillon was the mother of King Louis IX of France, and Estelle de Réchac was a noblewoman who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne of Austria.
Despite its French origins, Estelle has been used in various forms around the world. In Spain, it is often spelled "Estela," while in Italy, it may appear as "Stella." The name has also gained popularity in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Australia.
In summary, Estelle is a feminine given name of French origin that means "star." It has been used throughout history by both royalty and commoners alike and has gained popularity in various forms around the world due to its musical connotations and literary appearances.
Statistics on the name Estelle in the United States show that it has had a variable but overall low occurrence over the past century.
The earliest recorded birth for the name Estelle in the US was in 1894, with five newborns sharing this unique name. This number remained consistent in 1908, indicating that while not common, Estelle was still being chosen by some parents during these years.
Interestingly, there was a slight increase in popularity between 1912 and 1916, with seven births recorded in 1912 and nine births each in 1915 and 1916. This suggests that perhaps there were cultural influences or trends during this period that contributed to more parents choosing the name Estelle for their daughters.
However, after 1916, the number of newborn girls named Estelle dropped again, with five births recorded in 1914 and six births in both 1920 and 1930. There were periods where no births were recorded at all for this name, such as between 1927 and 1935.
It wasn't until 1943 that the name Estelle saw another small spike, with five newborn girls being named Estelle that year.
Over the entire period from 1894 to 1943, a total of 159 babies were named Estelle in the United States. This shows that while not extremely popular, there has been consistent, albeit low, usage of this name over time. Parents have chosen Estelle for their daughters likely due to its unique sound and potential meanings associated with it.
In conclusion, the statistics indicate that Estelle is a name that has seen limited but persistent use in the United States over the past century. It's important to note that these figures only represent births recorded in the US during these years and may not account for immigration or other factors that could influence the overall number of people named Estelle in the country today.
Sources:
- Social Security Administration, "Name Popularity"
- The National Archives, "Birth Records"