Starling is a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

and a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

. According to one source, the surname arose in

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

as a nickname related to the bird, starling, but the author speculates "it is hard to see ''why''". Another source puts the surname into a list of "surnames derived from birds".

Notable people with the name

;Given name *

Starling Marte Starling Javier Marte (born October 9, 1988) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, and Oa ...

(born 1988), professional athlete * Starling Thomas V (born 2000), American football player ;Surname *

Alan Starling Alan William Starling (born 2 April 1951) was a professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Luton Town, Torquay United, Northampton Town & Huddersfield Town. Playing career Starling began his career as an apprentice with Luton Town ...

(born 1951), English footballer *

Avril Starling Avril Moira Starling (born 19 April 1953) is an English former cricketer who played as a medium pace bowler. She appeared in 11 Test matches and 20 One Day Internationals for England between 1982 and 1986. She played domestic cricket for Lanc ...

(born 1953), English cricketer * Boris Starling (born 1969), English writer * Bubba Starling (born 1992), American baseball player *

Ernest Starling Ernest Henry Starling (17 April 1866 – 2 May 1927) was a British physiologist who contributed many fundamental ideas to this subject. These ideas were important parts of the British contribution to physiology, which at that time led the world. ...

(1866-1927), English physiologist *

Geoff Starling Geoff Starling (14 December 1952) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. An Australia international and New South Wales interstate representative three-quarter back, he played club football in the ...

(born 1952), Australian rugby league player *

Hannah Starling Hannah Starling (born 12 June 1995 in Leeds, England) is a British former diver. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she competed in the Women's synchronized 3 metre springboard. Former world champion diver Edwin Jongejans has trained her since 2004. ...

(born 1995), British diver *

John Henry Starling John Henry Starling, (15 January 1883 – 5 April 1966) was the official secretary to the Governor-General of Australia from 1919 to 1927, serving Munro Ferguson, Forster and Baird. Career Having originally lived in Melbourne, Starling tr ...

(1883–1966), Australian public servant *

Josh Starling Josh Starling (born 18 May 1990) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League and his position was prop. B ...

(born 1990), Australian Rugby League player *

Kristy Starling Kristy Starling is a contemporary Christian music singer, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After marrying husband Adam Starling in the late 2002, she came second in a national singing competition, ''Today's Superstar'', NBC News' morning show. ...

(contemporary), a Contemporary Christian Music singer *

Paul Starling Paul Noel Starling (born 1948) is an Australian martial artist renowned as a Gōjū-ryū Karate master. He was the most senior Caucasian student of Gōjū-ryū Gogen Yamaguchi, and is a world Vice President of the International Karate do Goj ...

(born 1948), Australian karateka * Ronnie Starling (1909–1991), English footballer * Simon Starling (born 1967), English artist

Fictional characters

* Clarice Starling, a main character in the novels and films ''The Silence of the Lambs'' and ''Hannibal'' * Juliet, Cordelia, and Rosalind Starling, from Suda 51's hack-and-slash zombie game '' Lollipop Chainsaw'' * Robyn Starling, one of the main characters from the 1993 animated film '' Tom and Jerry: The Movie''

References

{{given name, type=both, Starling Given names derived from animals Given names derived from birds

Notable people with the name

Fictional characters

See also

References