Estelle is a female

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 f ...

Occitan Occitan may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania territory in parts of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain. * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania administrative region of France. * Occitan language, spoken in parts o ...

origin, and means ''star''. Saint Estelle was a

martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' Word stem, stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In ...

who purportedly lived in

Aquitania Gallia Aquitania (, ), also known as Aquitaine or Aquitaine Gaul, was a province of the Roman Empire. It lies in present-day southwest France and the comarca of Val d'Aran in northeast Spain, where it gives its name to the modern region of Aquit ...

in the third century AD, although the earliest references to her date from the Middle Ages. The earliest formats of this Saint's name, Eustella/Eustelle and Eustalia, morphed into Estelle by

Provençal Provençal may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Provence, a region of France ** Provençal dialect, a dialect of the Occitan language, spoken in the southeast of France ** ''Provençal'', meaning the whole Occitan language * Provenca ...

poet

Frédéric Mistral Joseph Étienne Frédéric Mistral (; , 8 September 1830 – 25 March 1914) was an Occitan writer and lexicographer of the Provençal form of the language. He received the 1904 Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of the fresh origina ...

due to association with ''Estela'' (

for ''star'', of which Estelle is essentially a phonetic rendering in

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

). Saint Estelle is the

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...

of the Felibrige, a literary and cultural association founded by Mistral and other Provençal writers to defend and promote their language. ''Star'' is the meaning generally assigned the name Estelle, although the format Eustalia suggests the name's true root is the Greek ''eustales'': ''well-groomed''. Despite the reported popularity of the saint the name Estelle was afforded little evident usage prior to the publication in 1788 of the

pastoral The pastoral genre of literature, art, or music depicts an idealised form of the shepherd's lifestyle – herding livestock around open areas of land according to the seasons and the changing availability of water and pasture. The target au ...

''Estelle'' by

Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (6 March 1755, near Sauve, Gard, France – 13 September 1794, Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, Sceaux, France) was a French poet, novelist and fabulist. Life Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian was born on 6 March 1755 in t ...

, the first famous historical namesake, Estelle Fornier (née Dubœuf), muse of the composer

Berlioz Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the ''Symphonie fantastique'' and ''Harold en Italie, Harold in Italy'' ...

, who was born in 1797. Best-known overall in France due to model

Estelle Lefébure Estelle Lefébure (; born 11 May 1965) is a French actress and model. She was one of the top fashion models in the 1980s and 1990s. Estelle Lefebure, as she was known in the early 1980s, was discovered by George Gallier and managed by him exclusi ...

(born 1966), the name Estelle has proven substantially more popular in Belgium than France. Estelle came into vogue in the British Isles in the mid-19th century likely as a variant of the similar

Stella Stella or STELLA may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Films * ''Stella'' (1921 film), directed by Edwin J. Collins * ''Stella'' (1943 film), with Zully Moreno * ''Stella'' (1950 film), with Ann Sheridan and Victor Mature * ''Stella'' (1955 ...

which had recently become fashionable. Estelle was also promoted via utilization by a number of novelists who wrote in English, most notably

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

in variant form for the character Estella Havisham in his novel ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens' second novel, after ''Dav ...

'' published in August 1861 after being serialized weekly from December 1860 with Estella being introduced in Chapter 8 on 19 January 1861. The general scholarly consensus is that in choosing Estella as the name of the remote love object of his novel's focal character: Pip - whose full given name is Philip - , Dickens was evoking Sir

Philip Sidney Sir Philip Sidney (30 November 1554 – 17 October 1586) was an English poet, courtier, scholar and soldier who is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan era, Elizabethan age. His works include a sonnet sequence, ' ...

's poetic wooing of the unattainable Stella in ''

Astrophel and Stella ''Astrophil and Stella'' is an English sonnet sequence by Philip Sidney containing 108 sonnets and 11 songs, probably composed in the 1580s. The name derives from the two Greek words, 'aster' (star) and 'phil' (lover), and the Latin word 'stell ...

'' (1591). Several other widely read authors of the day gave the name Estelle to major characters in their novels,

Catherine Gore Catherine Grace Frances Gore (''née'' Moody; 12 February 1798 – 29 January 1861), was a prolific English novelist and dramatist. The daughter of a wine merchant from Retford, Nottinghamshire, she became among the best known of the silver fork ...

in ''Romances of Real Life'' as early as 1829 although most examples date from mid-century, such as

Annie Edwards Annie Edwards (c. 1830–1896), also known as Annie Edwardes, was a popular English novelist in the Victorian era. Three of her 21 books were adapted for the theatre. Perhaps her best-known work is her 1866 novel, ''Archie Lovell'', which the pl ...

in ''Creeds'' (1859),

E.D.E.N. Southworth Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth (December 26, 1819June 30, 1899) was an American writer of more than 60 novels in the latter part of the 19th century. She was the most popular American novelist of her day.

in ''The Lady of the Isle'' (1859), and

Augusta Jane Evans Augusta Jane Wilson ( Evans; May 8, 1835 – May 9, 1909), was an American author of Southern United States literature, Southern literature and a supporter of the Confederate States of America, Confederacy during the American Civil War. Her book ...

in ''St. Elmo'' (1866). Estelle and Estella remained popular from roughly 1880 to 1930, with a marked decline in usage since 1960. Estelle has overall been more popular in the United States than in the British Isles, with there being at least two prominent American namesakes: writer

Estelle Anna Lewis Estelle Anna Lewis (; April 1824November 24, 1880) was a 19th-century American poet and dramatist. After marriage, she started using pen names, including "Estelle", "Stella", and "Stells". She published several volumes of verse. The first volum ...

(1824–1880) and society woman

Estelle Skidmore Doremus Estelle Emma Doremus ( Skidmore; May 6, 1830 May 21, 1905) was the daughter of Hubbard Skidmore, who served in the American Revolutionary War, and became a charter member and honorary vice president general of the National Society of the Daughter ...

(1830–1905), who significantly predate the name's mid-19th century British vogue (although in Lewis' case it is dubious if Estelle were her birth name rather than a literary affectation). Estelle is also used as an alternative form of

Esther Esther (; ), originally Hadassah (; ), is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. According to the biblical narrative, which is set in the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian king Ahasuerus falls in love with Esther and ma ...

. The name Estelle made headlines in February 2012 when

King Carl Gustaf of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. Having reigned since 1973, he is the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history. Carl Gustaf was born during the reign of his paternal great-grandfather, K ...

announced Estelle as the given name chosen for his newborn granddaughter (see

Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland Princess Estelle of Sweden, Duchess of Östergötland (Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary; born 23 February 2012) is a member of the Swedish royal family. She is the elder child of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. She ...

). The choice of a French name with only a peripheral profile in Sweden - a 2012 year-end tally would estimate that a total of 663 Swedish residents bore the given name Estelle - touched off a flurry of media debate with writer Herman Lindqvist, who has acted as a historical consultant to the Swedish Royal Family, expressing the extreme negative position thus: "Totally unexpected and inappropriate...No name for a future ruler...Estelle sounds like the name of a nightclub queen." Conversely top Scandinavian royalty pundit Kjell Arne Totland ( no) reacted positively, calling Estelle "a very nice name, rich in tradition yet modern."

People with the name Estelle

, Princess of Sweden *

Estelle Akofio-Sowah Estelle Akofio-Sowah is a Ghanaian businesswoman and the current CSquared Ghana Country Manager and former Google Ghana country manager. Estelle was once the managing director of BusyInternet, an internet service provider in Ghana. Early life ...

, Scottish-born Ghanaian businesswoman *

Estelle Alphand Estelle Erika Ainee Alphand (born 23 April 1995) is a French-born Swedish alpine skier, who competes in all events. She was born in Briançon, France, and she is the daughter of the former alpine skier and rally driver Luc Alphand. She has repr ...

(born 1995), Swedish-French alpine skier * Estelle Mendell Amory (1845–?), American educator and author *

Estelle Asmodelle Estelle Asmodelle (born 22 April 1964), formerly known as Estelle Maria Croot, is an Australian polymath and transgender activist. She has also worked as a model, actress, belly dancer, musician, abstract artist, and physicist. On 13 October ...

, Australian transgender model, dancer, actress, musician, engineer and astronomer *

Estelle Axton Estelle Axton (''née'' Stewart; September 11, 1918 – February 24, 2004) was an American record executive and co-founder of Stax Records, along with her brother Jim Stewart. Biography Born in Middleton, Tennessee, Estelle Stewart grew up o ...

(1918–2004), American record executive * Estelle Bajou, American actor, composer, musician, producer, and writer * Estelle Balet, Swiss champion snowboarder *

Estelle Baskerville Estelle Baskerville (born November 15, 1946) is an American athlete. She competed in the women's high jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympi ...

(born 1946), American athlete * Estelle Basor, American mathematician *

Estelle Beauchamp Estelle Beauchamp is a Canadian educator and writer. She was born in Montreal, where she worked as a language teacher. Beauchamp moved to Ottawa in 1974. She later moved to Sudbury. Works * ''Les Mémoires de Christine Marshall'' (Prise de pa ...

, Canadian educator and writer *

Estelle Beere Estelle Girda Beere (23 July 1875 – 20 September 1959) was a New Zealand dancing teacher. She was born in Wanganui, New Zealand, on 23 July 1875. In the 1958 Queen's Birthday Honours, Beere was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Br ...

(1875–1959), New Zealand dancing teacher * Estelle Bennett, American singer (the Ronettes) *

Estelle Bernadotte Estelle Bernadotte (born Estelle Romaine Manville; September 26, 1904 – May 28, 1984), Countess of Wisborg (1928–1973), also known as Estelle Ekstrand (from 1973), was an American-Swedish countess who was a leading figure in the Internati ...

(1904–1984), Countess of Wisborg *

Estelle Blackburn Estelle Blackburn (born 1950) is an Australian journalist who played a crucial role in the review of several controversial criminal cases in Western Australia. Early life Born in 1950 in Nedlands, Western Australia, to Margaret Mercer Blackburn ...

, award-winning Australian journalist *

Estelle Brody Estelle Brody (15 August 1900 – 3 June 1995) was an American actress who became one of the biggest female stars of British silent film in the latter half of the 1920s. Her career was then derailed by a series of ill-advised decisions and ...

(1900–1995), American actress *

Estelle Cascarino Estelle Cascarino (born 5 February 1997) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Juventus and the France national team. Club career Cascarino started playing football at the age of thirteen for the youth t ...

(born 1997), French football player * Estelle Ceulemans, Belgian politician and trade unionist *

Estelle Chen Estelle Chen (born 4 March 1998) is a French model of Chinese descent. Early life Estelle Chen was born in Paris to Chinese parents from Wenzhou, a city in Zhejiang province. Estelle was scouted by an agent of Elite Model Management in 2012. ...

, French model of Chinese descent * Estelle Bee Dagum, Argentine and Canadian economist and statistician *

Estelle Denis Estelle Denis (born 6 December 1976) is a French journalist and television presenter. Early life and education Estelle Denis was born in Paris but spent her childhood in Le Coudray-Montceaux, a town in the department of Essonne. In 1994, she ...

(born 1976), French journalist and television presenter * Estelle Desanges (born 1977), stage name of a French pornographic actress * Estelle Elizabeth (born 1996), French ice dancer *

Estelle Etterre Estelle Etterre (sometimes billed as Belle Hare; July 26, 1899 – March 7, 1996) was an American actress. She appeared in many early 1930s Hal Roach films, such as the Laurel and Hardy short films '' County Hospital'', '' The Chimp'' (both 1932 ...

(1899–1996), American actress *

Estelle Evans Estelle Rolle Evans (October 1, 1906 – July 20, 1985) was a Bahamian-American actress during the 20th century. Some of her more famous appearances were in the movies '' The Quiet One'' (1948), ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962), and '' The Le ...

(1906–1985), Bahamian-American actress * Estelle Folest (born 1976), French politician *

Estelle Freedman Estelle Freedman (born 1947) is an American historian. She is the Edgar E. Robinson Professor Emerita in U.S. History at Stanford University She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College in 1969 and her Master of Arts (1972) and ...

, American feminist scholar *

Estelle Getty Estelle Gettleman (née Scher; July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008), known professionally as Estelle Getty, was an American actress and comedian. She was best known for her portrayal of Sophia Petrillo on ''The Golden Girls'' (1985–1992), for whi ...

(1923–2008), American actress; star of ''The Golden Girls'' *

Estelle Grelier Estelle Grelier (born 22 June 1973) is a French politician of the Socialist Party (PS) who served as Secretary of State for Local Authorities in the governments of successive Prime Ministers Manuel Valls and Bernard Cazeneuve from 2016 until 201 ...

(born 1973), French politician *

Estelle Griswold Estelle Naomi Trebert Griswold (June 8, 1900 – August 13, 1981) was a civil rights activist and feminist most commonly known as a defendant in what became the Supreme Court case ''Griswold v. Connecticut'', in which contraception for married c ...

(1900–1981), American civil rights activist and feminist *

Estelle Harman Estelle Harman (September 11, 1922 – April 30, 1995) was an influential American acting coach in Los Angeles, recognized for her dynamic approach to film acting education. Biography Harman began her career as an acting instructor at UCLA in t ...

(1922–1995), American acting coach *

Estelle Harris Estelle Harris (; April 22, 1928 – April 2, 2022) was an American actress and comedian, known for her exaggeratedly shrill, grating voice. She was best known for her role as Estelle Costanza on ''Seinfeld''. Her other roles included the voice ...

, (1928–2022) American actress - Estelle Costanza in ''Seinfeld'' *

Estelle Hemsley Estelle Hemsley (May 5, 1887 – November 5, 1968) was a prominent African American actress of stage and screen. She appeared in the stage and screen versions of ''Take a Giant Step'', earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Ac ...

(1887–1968), African American actress of stage and screen *

Estelle May Hurll Estelle May Hurll (1863–1924), a student of aesthetics, wrote a series of popular aesthetic analyses of art in the early twentieth century. Hurll was born 25 July 1863 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, daughter of Charles W. and Sarah Hurll. She ...

(1863–1924), American writer * Estelle Ishigo (1899–1990), American water color artist * Estelle Venner Keogh (1892-1966), Australian nurse who served in World War I * Estelle Muriel Kerr (1879–1971), Canadian painter, illustrator and writer * Estelle Klein (1930–2004), advocate and supporter of folk music in Canada * Estelle Kohler (born 1940), British theatre and television actress * Estelle Lawson (1907–1983), American amateur golfer *

Estelle Lawton Lindsey Estelle Lawton Lindsey (c. 1868 – 1955) was a 20th-century journalist who was also the first female City Council member in Los Angeles, California, (1915–17) the first woman to preside over the City Council there and the first woman to act a ...

, American journalist * Estelle Lazer, Australian archaeologist *

, French model *

(1824–1880) American poet and dramatist *

Estelle Liebling Estelle Liebling (April 21, 1880 – September 25, 1970) was an American soprano, composer, arranger, music editor, and celebrated voice teacher and vocal coach. Born into the Liebling family of musicians, she began her professional opera career ...

, American vocal coach * Estelle M. H. Merrill (1858–1908), American journalist, editor *

Estelle Nze Minko Estelle Nze Minko (born 11 August 1991) is a French professional handball player for Győri ETO KC and the French national team. She is an Olympic champion from 2021, world champion from 2017 and 2023, and a European champion from 2018. Caree ...

(born 1991), French handball player *

Estelle Morris Estelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley, (born 17 June 1952), is a British politician and life peer who served as Secretary of State for Education and Skills from 2001 to 2002. A member of the Labour Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP ...

Baroness Morris of Yardley, British politician *

Estelle Mossely Estelle Mossely is a French professional boxer who formerly held the IBO female lightweight title. As an amateur, she won gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2016 World Championships. Life Mossely was born in France to a Congolese fa ...

(born 1992), French boxer * Estelle Massey Osborne (1901–1981), African American nurse and educator * Estelle Nathan, British painter *

Estelle Nollet Estelle Nollet (born 1977 in Central African Republic) is a French writer. Works *2009: ''On ne boit pas les rats-kangourous'', Paris, Albin Michel, series "Romans Français", 327 p. :: - Bourse Thyde Monnier de la SGDL (2009), Prix Obiou (20 ...

(born 1977), French writer *

Estelle Parsons Estelle Parsons (born November 20, 1927) is an American actress. After studying law, Parsons became a singer before deciding to pursue a career in acting. She worked for the television program '' Today'' and made her stage debut in 1961. Durin ...

(born 1927), American actress *

Estelle Perrossier Estelle Perrossier (born 12 January 1990) is a French sprinter specialising in the 400 metres. She competed in the 4 × 400 metres relay event at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics The 2015 IAAF World Championships ( zh, 第十五� ...

(born 1990), French sprinter *

Estelle Quérard Estelle Quérard (born ) is a French female former volleyball player, playing as a libero. She was part of the France women's national volleyball team. She competed at the 2009 Women's European Volleyball Championship The 2009 Women's Europea ...

(born 1979), French volleyball player * Estelle Ramey (1917–2006), American endocrinologist, physiologist and feminist *

Estelle Reiner Estelle Reiner (née Lebost; June 5, 1914 – October 25, 2008) was an American actress and singer, described by ''The New York Times'' as "matriarch of one of the leading families in American comedy". She was the wife of Carl Reiner and the ...

(1914–2008), American actress and singer * Estelle Ricketts (1871-?), American composer * Estelle Roberts (1889–1970), British spiritualist medium * Estelle Sapir, Polish Jewish Holocaust survivor and litigant *

Estelle Sartini Estelle Sartini (born 1 June 1973) is a French former rugby union player, who captained the France women's national rugby union team. She made 89 appearances for France between 1998 and 2008. Personal life Aside from rugby, Sartini has worked ...

(born 1973), French rugby player *

Estelle Skornik Estelle Skornik (born 4 July 1971 in Paris) is a French actress, known in the United Kingdom for playing " Nicole" alongside Max Douchin ("Papa") in a range of Renault Clio advertisements. Family Her ancestors were Polish Jews, and her grandfa ...

(born 1971), French actress *

Estelle Swaray Estelle Fanta Swaray (born 18 January 1980), also known mononymously as Estelle, is a British singer, rapper and actress. She is known for her eclectic blending of musical genres including R&B, soul, reggae, grime, hip hop and dance. She has co ...

(born 1980), British singer/rapper * Estelle Turrell Smith (1854-19??), social reformer *

Estelle Taylor Ida Estelle Taylor (May 20, 1894 – April 15, 1958) was an American actress who was the second of world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey's four wives. With "dark-brown, almost black hair and brown eyes," she was regarded as one of the most beau ...

, American silent movie actress *

Estelle Thomson Estelle Thomson (née Comrie-Smith) (1894 – 6 September 1953) was an Australian Natural history, naturalist and botanical artist. She authored a number of books, compiled a weekly newspaper column, and gave talks on the radio about Australian w ...

(1894–1953), Australian naturalist and botanical artist * Estelle Thompson, Australian crime writer *

Estelle Weigel Estelle D. Weigel Schmitt (November 18, 1914 – March 15, 1967) was an American figure skater in ladies singles. Born in Buffalo, New York, she won the bronze medal at the United States Figure Skating Championships in 1934 and competed in the 19 ...

(1914–1967), American figure skater *

Estelle Winwood Estelle Winwood (born Estelle Ruth Goodwin, 24 January 1883 – 20 June 1984) was an English actress who moved to the United States mid-career and became celebrated for her wit and longevity, starring in film and TV roles until her nineties. E ...

, British character actress *

Estelle Yancey Estelle "Mama" Yancey (January 1, 1896 – April 19, 1986) was an American blues singer. She was nominated four times for Blues Music Awards as Traditional Blues Female Artist. Life and career Yancey was born Estella Harris in Cairo, Illinoi ...

(1896–1986), American blues singer

References

{{given name English feminine given names Feminine given names Occitan language

People with the name Estelle

See also

References