Declining since 2001, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Celest since 1908
Babies named Celest per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 13 |
| 1920s | 12 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 27 |
| 1960s | 74 |
| 1970s | 66 |
| 1980s | 67 |
| 1990s | 280 |
| 2000s | 362 |
| 2010s | 121 |
| 2020s | 62 |
Meaning & origin
Celest is a delicate, celestial-sounding name that has hovered at the edges of American naming charts since its first recorded use in 1908. Its rarity belies a distinct appeal, perhaps as a streamlined alternative to the more common Celeste. The name reached its peak popularity in 2004, but since 2001 it has been on a slow, steady decline. In 2025, only about 1 in every 200,908 girls were named Celest, placing it at rank 10,917. The name has never been tied to any particular state or region, seen as a quiet choice for parents seeking something softly ethereal without the weight of a top-tier name. Its trajectory reflects a broader shift away from elaborate 'Celestial' names in the 2000s, yet Celest retains a timeless, airy quality.
Celest likely derives from the Latin 'caelestis' meaning 'heavenly', though it may also be a modern coinage as a clipped form of Celeste or Celestine. The name has seen occasional use in the United States since the early 20th century, with a peak in the 2000s, but remains rare. Its usage is primarily English-speaking.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cel, Celly, Cess
Sibling names for Celest
Names that share Celest's style, for a brother or sister.
