How to say it
es · TEL · la
ɛˈstɛl.ə
Feminine
Estella
Star
What it means
From the Latin stella, 'star,' the fuller form of Estelle and cousin of Stella.
Estella comes from the Latin stella, 'star,' a romantic, old-world elaboration of Estelle and cousin to Stella. Dickens gave it a cool, unforgettable turn as the proud Estella in Great Expectations. Luminous and vintage. Stella and Essie are the shorts. Said eh-STEL-uh.
How to spell Estella
The standard spelling is Estella. Common variants include Estelle, Stella, Estrella, but Estella is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #106 in 1883, currently #509 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Stella, Essie.
- Pop culture
Estella of Dickens' Great Expectations.
Who's worn it
- Estella central character in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations
Spelling variants
- Estelle
- Stella
- Estrella
Names with the same feeling
See Estella from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Estella mean?
- From the Latin stella, 'star,' the fuller form of Estelle and cousin of Stella.
- What does Estella mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Estella means "Star." Estella comes from the Latin stella, 'star,' a romantic, old-world elaboration of Estelle and cousin to Stella. Dickens gave it a cool, unforgettable turn as the proud Estella in Great Expectations. Luminous and vintage. Stella and Essie are the shorts. Said eh-STEL-uh.
- How do you pronounce Estella?
- Estella is pronounced ɛˈstɛl.ə. Say it as es-TEL-la, with the stress on the "tel" syllable.
- How do you spell Estella?
- The standard spelling is Estella. Common spelling variants include Estelle, Stella, Estrella.
- Is Estella a boy or girl name?
- Estella is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Estella?
- Estella ranked #509 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.