Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Celestine
GirlFrench, Latin· “heavenly”
- Meaning
- heavenly
- Origin
- French, Latin
- Pronunciation
- SEH-luh-steen
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #3,219
- US babies 2025
- 49
- Best rank
- #493 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1952
Meaning and origin of Celestine
Celestine is a French and Latin name that means “heavenly”.
Celestine is the French feminine Célestine and also the English form of the Latin Caelestinus, from caelestis, heavenly. Five popes were named Celestine, including Celestine V, who famously resigned the papacy in the thirteenth century. As a girls' name, Célestine is used in France, and the accent is usually dropped in English. It is said SEH-luh-steen, with the stress on the first syllable, although seh-leh-STEEN is also heard. At home it might become Celeste or Tina.
Popularity over time
Celestine has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 82 different years. Its best national rank was #493 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1952, when 195 were named Celestine. In 2025, 49 babies were named Celestine, and it ranked #3,219 nationally. That is 82% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #571 in 1920, #628 in 1950, #3,523 in 1980, #5,990 in 2000, #9,353 in 2010, and #3,219 in 2025. Of the 9,809 US girls named Celestine since records began, 17% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 1,438 babies. Since 2010, 391 more have been named Celestine.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Cinda, Nanci, Oralia, Cathey, and Kathaleen.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Celestine ranked highest in California and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1859 | 11 |
| Texas | #3001 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Celestine is usually pronounced SEH-luh-steen, with four syllables. It has nine letters, starts with C and ends in “-ne”.
Middle names for Celestine
A few middle names that flow with Celestine: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Celestine
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Lists that include Celestine
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Celestine mean?
Celestine is a French and Latin name that means “heavenly”.
What is the origin of the name Celestine?
Celestine has French and Latin roots. Celestine is the French feminine Célestine and also the English form of the Latin Caelestinus, from caelestis, heavenly.
Is Celestine a popular name?
Not especially. Celestine ranked #3,219 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Celestine a boy or girl name?
Celestine is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Celestine?
Celestine is usually pronounced SEH-luh-steen. 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