Sterling Meaning and Origin
The name Sterling is a unisex name meaning “starling” and is of English origin. Sterling is a name of uncertain origin, it is likely that comes from Middle English sterling, “starling” a bird name, or from Middle English sterre “star” + -ling (as in shilling). Another theory is that it derives from Old French estedre “stater” an ancient gold or silver coin. Over time, the name became associated with the quality of being “genuine” or “of high quality,” and it eventually came to be used as a given name. The Scottish version Stirling is a locational surname from Stirlingshire, Scotland. The name Sterling has been in use as a given name for boys in the United States since the late 19th century. It has never been a very common name, but it has been used consistently over the years. According to Social Security Administration data, the name peaked in popularity in the early 1900s and has been relatively uncommon since then. In addition to being used as a given name, Sterling is also a surname that is fairly common in English-speaking countries. Notable people with the surname Sterling include the American author and poet George Sterling and the English footballer Raheem Sterling.
Names similar to Sterling:
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