Celeste is a distinctive choice, ranked #467 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Celeste in their class.
Origin & Meaning
Latin — Heavenly, celestial
💎
UK Rank 2024
#467
US Rank #198
About the Name Celeste
Celeste is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 83 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #444 in 2023 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
In terms of origin, Celeste is rooted in Latin, where it means "Heavenly, celestial". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Celeste is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #198, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Celeste
Unlikely. With around 88 UK babies named Celeste per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Celeste in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Celeste is currently rising in popularity in the UK, up 83 places over the last five years to #467 in 2024. If this trend continues, it will become more common in classrooms over the next decade.
The name Celeste has Latin origins and means "Heavenly, celestial". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Celeste include: Celeste Headlee — Celeste Headlee is an American radio journalist, author, public speaker, musician, and co-host of the weekly series Retro Report on PBS.; Celeste Cortesi — Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi is a Filipino model, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022..
Celeste appears in the US top 500 at #198 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
88
UK babies named Celeste (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↑ 83 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Celeste
Likely around 1 other Celeste in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Celeste
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Celeste Holm was an American actress. Holm won an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan's Gentleman's Agreement, and was nominated for her roles in Come to the Stable and All About Eve.
Celeste Headlee is an American radio journalist, author, public speaker, musician, and co-host of the weekly series Retro Report on PBS. In her 20-year career in public radio, Headlee has served as the host of the Georgia Public Broadcasting program "On Second Thought" and co-host of the national morning news show The Takeaway.
Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi is a Filipino model, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022. She represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
Marie Celeste Martin Stranahan, known by her stage name Marie Celeste, was an American actress, soprano, socialite, and philanthropist. She was an active performer in light operas and musicals in the 1890s and early 1900s.