Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Celeste
GirlLatin, Italian· “heavenly”
- Meaning
- heavenly
- Origin
- Latin, Italian
- Pronunciation
- suh-LEHST
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #188
- US babies 2025
- 1,662
- Best rank
- #188 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Celeste
Celeste is a Latin and Italian name that means “heavenly”.
Celeste comes from the Latin caelestis, meaning heavenly, from caelum, meaning sky or heaven. It is used in Italian, Spanish, French and English, and in Spanish and Portuguese the word celeste also names a light sky blue. The name spread through Christian Europe with its sense of the divine and the heavens, and it has long had a graceful, romantic image. Readers may know Céleste as the queen elephant in the Babar books. Celeste feels elegant and dreamy while remaining simple, and Celia and Celestine are related names.
Popularity over time
Celeste first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 145 different years, starting in 1881. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #188, and its highest count, 1,662 babies. Use has grown 160% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #583 in 1920, #338 in 1950, #392 in 1980, #275 in 2000, #457 in 2010, and #188 in 2025. Of the 65,621 US girls named Celeste since records began, 16% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 9,815 babies. Since 2010, 14,160 more have been named Celeste.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kaylani, Kaia, Haven, Alora, and Lia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Celeste ranked highest in New Mexico, California, and Rhode Island.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #85 | 15 |
| California | #89 | 330 |
| Rhode Island | #95 | 9 |
| Nevada | #97 | 21 |
| Texas | #106 | 273 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Celeste is usually pronounced suh-LEHST, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with C and ends in “-te”.
Middle names for Celeste
A few middle names that flow with Celeste: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Celeste
Similar names
Juliette Girl
joo-lee-ET
“youthful” · French
#110
Colette Girl
koh-LEHT
“victory of the people” · French
#316
Estelle Girl
eh-STEHL
“star” · French
#573
Chiara Girl
KYAHR-uh
“bright, clear” · Italian
#1,066
Odette Girl
oh-DEHT
“wealth, fortune” · French
#883
Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Bella Girl
BEL-uh
“beautiful” · Italian
#136
Camille Girl
kuh-MEEL
“ceremonial attendant” · French
#240
Noelle Girl
noh-EHL
“Christmas” · French
#202
Gemma Girl
JEH-muh
“gem, precious stone” · Italian
#170
Francesca Girl
fran-CHEHS-kuh
“French, from France” · Italian
#307
Maia Girl
MY-uh
“mother, nurse” · Greek
#433
Lists that include Celeste
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Celeste mean?
Celeste is a Latin and Italian name that means “heavenly”.
What is the origin of the name Celeste?
Celeste has Latin, Italian, and French roots. Celeste comes from the Latin caelestis, meaning heavenly, from caelum, meaning sky or heaven.
Is Celeste a popular name?
Yes. Celeste ranked #188 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Celeste a boy or girl name?
Celeste is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Celeste?
Celeste is usually pronounced suh-LEHST. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings