Holding steady, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Starlett since 1942
Babies named Starlett per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 49 |
| 1950s | 105 |
| 1960s | 116 |
| 1970s | 116 |
| 1980s | 110 |
| 1990s | 31 |
| 2000s | 57 |
| 2010s | 103 |
| 2020s | 60 |
Meaning & origin
Starlett is a rare modern coinage that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1942, during the golden age of Hollywood. The name reached its peak popularity in 1981, though even then it was never common. As of 2025, it ranks 13,208th with an occurrence rate of about 1 in 267,878 births. The trajectory has remained stable over the decades, with no recent revival. The name's spelling and sound are a playful fusion of the word 'star' and the suffix '-lett', echoing the Hollywood term 'starlet' for a young actress. Starlett is used almost exclusively for girls and remains a distinctive choice for those seeking a celestial-inspired name with mid-20th-century roots.
Starlett is a modern coinage combining the English word 'star' with the diminutive suffix '-lett', modeled after names like Scarlet or Harriet. It first appears in U.S. records in 1942, likely influenced by the Hollywood 'starlet' term for young actresses. The name has never entered widespread use, remaining a rare and distinctive choice.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Star, Lettie, Starla
Sibling names for Starlett
Names that share Starlett's style, for a brother or sister.
