Girl & boy name
Sterling
Sterling is currently the #345 boy name in the United States, based on 2025 Social Security data. In raw numbers: 944 babies. Momentum is clearly positive: five years ago it ranked #399, now it sits at #345. Looking at the full record since 1880, Sterling hit its all-time high of #305 in 1895, when 35 boys were given the name. State by state, South Dakota leads the way at #105.
Rankings
Sterling popularity, 1880–2025
Where Sterling is most popular
Uniqueness score
A familiar pick that most people will recognize instantly. Based on how many babies per birth were named Sterling in the most recent year of SSA data.
Similar names
Sterling as a girl name
Sterling holds the #1098 spot on the 2025 list of the most popular girl names in the U.S. That amounts to 218 newborn girls in a single year. The name is on the way up, moving from #1678 in 2020 to #1098 today. Remarkably, 2025 is the strongest year in the entire SSA record for Sterling, which stretches back to 1913. The name's biggest fan base is in Oklahoma (#225 there in 2025).