What does Sterling mean?

Sterling ▲ as a boys' name is pronounced STER-ling. It is of English origin, and the meaning of Sterling is "genuine, of high quality". The word derives from an Old English term meaning "little star". Also variant of a name meaning "easterner" given to pre-medieval refiners of silver. Familiar as a given name in the 1950s-1960s due to actor Sterling Hayden. Race-car driver Stirling Moss; sports commentator Sterling Sharpe.

STARTS/ENDS WITH Ste-, -ing

ASSOCIATED WITH high (great), old, little, star, medieval

Variations

VARIANTS Sterlyn, Stirling

How popular is Sterling?

Sterling is a very popular first name for men (#540 out of 1220, Top 44%) and also a very popular last name for both adults and children (#1333 out of 150436, Top 1%). (2000 U.S. CENSUS)

Similar Names

Sterling▲ is pronounced similarly to Starling. Other suggested similar-sounding names are Berlin, Carling, Delling, Erling, Erving, Fielding, Fleming, Flemming, Gambling, Goring, Harding, Henning, Irving▼, Kippling (see Kipling), Loring, Lorring, Merlin▼, Merlinn (see Merlin), Reading, Reeding (see Reading), Saturnin, Selig, Selim, Selwin, Selwinn (see Selwyn), Serafin, Serafino, Sergent, Sergi, Sergio, Sergiu, Severino, Sheldin, Sherif, Sherill, Sherman▼, Shermann (see Sherman), Shermon, Sherrill, Sherwen, Sherwin, Sherwind (see Sherwin), Sherwinn (see Sherwin), Sherwyn, Spaulding, Stearns, Stedman, Steel, Steele, Steffan, Steffen, Stefon, Stefonn, Stein, Steinar, Sten, Stensen, Stephen▼, Stephonn, Stepny, Stern, Sterne, Stetcyn, Stetson▲, Stevan, Steven▼, Stevon, Stig, Strong, Sutherland, Svein, Sveinn, Verlin and Waring. These names tend to be less frequently used than Sterling.