Celeste is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word "caelestis", which means "of the sky" or "heavenly". The name Celeste was first used as an Italian surname before being adopted as a given name.
The name Celeste has been popular throughout history, with notable figures such as Celeste Oglesby, an American singer-songwriter, and Celeste Barber, an Australian comedian and model, carrying the name. Despite its popularity, Celeste remains relatively uncommon compared to other names of Latin origin like Sophia or Isabella.
Celeste is often associated with celestial themes and imagery due to its meaning. It has been used in literature, art, and music as a way to evoke a sense of heavenly beauty or transcendence. For example, the French composer Hector Berlioz wrote a symphony titled "Symphonie Fantastique" featuring a movement called "L'Absence", which was inspired by his love for a woman named Celeste.
In popular culture, Celeste has been featured in various films and television shows, such as the 2018 film "Celeste & Jesse Forever" starring Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg. The name also appears in books like "The Story of Celeste" by Jessica Koch, which tells the tale of a young girl who embarks on a journey to find her place in the world.
Overall, Celeste is a unique and elegant given name with a rich history and meaningful origin. Its association with celestial themes makes it a fitting choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with deep roots and poetic significance.
The name Celeste has been popular among parents in the United States since at least 1881, with a total of 14 births that year. The number of babies named Celeste fluctuated over the following decades, with years seeing as few as 9 births and as many as 1079.
Celeste experienced its first significant spike in popularity in the 1950s, with 622 births recorded in 1954. This trend continued into the 1960s, peaking at 855 births in 1961. However, by the mid-1970s, the number of babies named Celeste began to decline, dropping below 600 births per year.
Despite this decrease, Celeste remained relatively stable throughout the late 20th century, with an average of around 500 births per year between 1980 and 1999. In the early 2000s, there was another spike in popularity, with a record-breaking 1636 births recorded in 2004.
Since then, Celeste has continued to be a popular name among parents in the United States. Despite some fluctuations, it has consistently remained among the top 1000 most popular names for girls since at least 1997. As of 2023, there have been a total of 62387 births recorded with the name Celeste in the United States.