Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Starling
UnisexEnglish, Old English· “the songbird”
- Meaning
- the songbird
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- STAHR-lihng
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #11,806
- US babies 2025
- 8
- Best rank
- #4,500 (1930)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Starling
Starling is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “the songbird”.
Starling is the English name of a songbird known for its glossy, speckled feathers, its skill at mimicking sounds and the huge swirling flocks called murmurations. The word comes from the Old English staer with a diminutive ending, and it is not directly related to star, though the two look alike and many parents enjoy the echo. Starling is also an English surname. As a given name it has been used for both girls and boys in the US. It is said STAHR-lihng. The name suits parents drawn to nature words such as Wren and Robin, and Star is an easy nickname.
Popularity over time
Starling first appears in US Social Security records in 1930. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #4,500 in 1930, and the most babies received it in 2023, when 18 were named Starling. In 2025, 8 babies were named Starling, and it ranked #11,806 nationally. That is 33% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #6,005 in 1950, #13,319 in 2010, and #11,806 in 2025. Of the 225 US girls named Starling since records began, 37% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 66 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Roe, Sun, Hermon, Rockie, and Carin.
Gender, sound and spelling
Starling is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 60% of US babies named Starling were girls and 40% were boys.
Starling is usually pronounced STAHR-lihng, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with S and ends in “-ng”.
Middle names for Starling
A few middle names that flow with Starling: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Starling
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Lists that include Starling
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Starling mean?
Starling is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “the songbird”.
What is the origin of the name Starling?
Starling has English and Old English roots. Starling is the English name of a songbird known for its glossy, speckled feathers, its skill at mimicking sounds and the huge swirling flocks called murmurations.
Is Starling a popular name?
Not especially. Starling ranked #11,806 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Starling a boy or girl name?
Starling is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 60% of US babies named Starling were girls and 40% were boys.
How do you pronounce Starling?
Starling is usually pronounced STAHR-lihng. 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