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 July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Stella, Essie.
- Pop culture
Estella of Dickens' Great Expectations.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give 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.