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How Many People Are Named Sterling?
Estimated people named Sterling living in the U.S. today
30,636
Gender distribution
89% male · 11% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 40,025
- Peak year: 2024 (1,098 births)
- Estimated living today: 30,636
Sterling by age group — who carries the name today?
Sterling popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Sterling
Sterling has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 40,025 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 30,636 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 11,157 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Sterlings you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Sterling in the US?
An estimated 30,636 people named Sterling are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Sterling rare — about 1 in 11,157 Americans.
Is Sterling a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Sterling is 89% male and 11% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Sterling most popular?
Sterling peaked in 2024, when 1,098 babies were given the name. Its current trend is rising compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Sterling?
Sterling ranks #1,230 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 47 out of 100 (higher means rarer).