The first name Stirling
A boy’s name meaning “stream”, “pool”, “lake”.
Pronounced /ˈstɝ.lɪŋ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Stirling means “stream”, “pool”, “lake”.
Borrowed from Middle Scots Stirveling, from Early Scots Strivelin, Strivelyn, likely from Old Irish sreb, srib (“stream”) + linn (“pool, lake”). Cognate with Old French Estrivelin, Middle Welsh Ystriflin.
More names that mean water.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 10 boys were named Stirling, making it the 2,269th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 28 births (#1,024).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Stirling with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Stirling at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 23 boys born in the United States were named Stirling, the 4,517th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2015, when 24 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Stirling in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Famous people named Stirling
3 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Stirling MossBritish motor racing driver (1929-2020)
- Stirling SilliphantAmerican screenwriter (1918–1996)
- Stirling MortlockAustralian rugby union player, born 1977
Questions
- What does the name Stirling mean?
- Stirling means “stream”, “pool”, “lake”.
- How popular is the name Stirling?
- In 2025, 10 boys born in England and Wales were named Stirling, ranking 2,269th. Its peak was 2015, with 28 births.
- Is Stirling a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 929 US babies named Stirling since 1880, 8% were girls and 92% boys.
- When was Stirling most popular?
- 2015 in the United States, when 24 babies were named Stirling, its highest rank at 4,274th.
- How do you pronounce Stirling?
- Stirling is /ˈstɝ.lɪŋ/, 2 syllables.
- Is Stirling also a surname?
- Yes. Stirling is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.