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 fa ...

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 Occitan (; o ...

origin, and means ''star''.

Saint Estelle Saint Estelle was an alleged third-century martyr in Gaul, daughter of an illustrious Roman and descended from a powerful family of Druids. She was attracted to the group of Eutropius of Saintes, who was the first bishop of the area, and asked ...

was a

martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', "witness", or , ''marturia'', 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 externa ...

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, where it gives its name to the modern region of Aquitaine. It was bordered by the provinces of Gallia ...

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: *Of 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 *Franco-Provençal language, a distinct Roman ...

poet

Frédéric Mistral Joseph Étienne Frédéric Mistral (; oc, Josèp Estève Frederic Mistral, 8 September 1830 – 25 March 1914) was a French writer of Occitan literature and lexicographer of the Provençal form of the language. He received the 1904 Nobel P ...

due to association with ''Estela'' (

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

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

). Saint Estelle is the

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

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 A pastoral lifestyle is that of shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasture. It lends its name to a genre of literature, art, and music (pastorale) that depicts ...

''Estelle'' by

Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (March 6, 1755 in the château of Florian, near Sauve, Gard – September 13, 1794 in Sceaux) was a French poet, novelist and fabulist. Life Florian's mother, a Spanish lady named Gilette de Salgues, died when ...

, the first famous historical namesake, Estelle Fornier (née Dubœuf), muse of the composer Berlioz, 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 Comedy *Stella (comedy group), a comedy troupe consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black and David Wain Characters *Stella (given name), including a list of characters with th ...

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 writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

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

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...

'' 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 Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philip ...

's poetic wooing of the unattainable Stella in '' Astrophel and Stella'' (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), a prolific English novelist and dramatist, was the daughter of a wine merchant from Retford, Nottinghamshire. She became among the best known of the silver fork wr ...

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 in ''The Lady of the Isle'' (1859), and Augusta Jane Evans 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 volume ...

(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. 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. He ascended the throne on the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, on 15 September 1973. He is the youngest child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Du ...

announced Estelle as the given name chosen for his newborn granddaughter (see Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland). 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 Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland, Princess of Sweden * Estelle Akofio-Sowah, 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 repre ...

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

Estelle Asmodelle Estelle Asmodelle, formerly known as Estelle Maria Croot, is a polymath. She is an Australian model, actress, belly dancer, musician, activist, abstract artist and physicist. She became Australia's first legally recognised transgender person ...

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

Estelle Axton Estelle Axton (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 on a farm. She move ...

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

Estelle Balet Estelle Balet (19 December 1994 – 19 April 2016) was a Swiss Freeriding (winter sport), freeride snowboarder and two-time world champion in 2015 and 2016 at the Freeride World Tour. She died in an avalanche on 19 April 2016, at the age of 21. ...

, Swiss champion snowboarder * Estelle Baskerville (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 Bri ...

(1875–1959), New Zealand dancing teacher * Estelle Bennett, American singer (the Ronettes) * Estelle Bernadotte (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 (1900–1995), American actress *

Estelle Cascarino Estelle Cascarino (born 5 February 1997) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United of the Women's Super League, on loan from Division 1 Féminine club Paris Saint-Germain, and the France national team. ...

(born 1997), French football player *

Estelle Chen Estelle Chen (born 4 March 1998) is a French-Chinese model. 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. In 2013, she ...

, French model of Chinese descent *

Estelle Bee Dagum Estela (Estelle) Bee Dagum is an Argentine and Canadian economist and statistician who was a professor "chiara fama" of statistical sciences at the University of Bologna. She is known for her research on time series analysis, and in particular for ...

, 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 Estelle Elizabeth (born 29 June 1996) is a French ice dancer. She and former partner Romain Le Gac represented France at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics and at two World Junior Championships, achieving their best result, 11th, in 2014. Career E ...

(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 most famous appearances were in the movies '' The Quiet One'' (1948), ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962), and ''The Lear ...

(1906–1985), Bahamian-American actress *

Estelle Freedman Estelle Freedman (born 1947) is an American historian. She is the Edgar E. Robinson Professor 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 PhD ( ...

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

Estelle Grelier Estelle Grelier (born 22 June 1973 in La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée) 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 ...

(born 1973), French politician * Estelle Griswold (1900–1981), American civil rights activist and feminist * Estelle Harman (1922–1995), American acting coach * Estelle Harris, (1928–2022) American actress - Estelle Costanza in ''Seinfeld'' *

Estelle Hemsley Estelle Hemsley (May 5, 1887 – November 5, 1968) was a prominent early 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 Support ...

(1887–1968), African American actress of stage and screen * Estelle May Hurll (1863–1924), American writer * Estelle Ishigo (1899–1990), American water color artist *

Estelle Muriel Kerr Estelle Muriel Kerr (1879-1971) was a Canadian painter, illustrator and writer. thumb Life Estelle Muriel Kerr was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1879. In Toronto she studied with Mary Ella Dignam and Laura Muntz Lyall. She studied at The New York ...

(1879–1971), Canadian painter, illustrator and writer *

Estelle Klein Estelle Klein (1930-2004) was an advocate and supporter of folk music in Canada and held numerous influential positions with cultural and heritage organizations during her lengthy career. Life Klein was born in Buffalo, New York and moved to Toron ...

(1930–2004), advocate and supporter of folk music in Canada *

Estelle Kohler Estelle Kohler (born 28 March 1940) is a British theatre and television actress. Born in South Africa, Kohler made a name for herself as a Shakespearean actor in England. She is a graduate of Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, of which she is an Assoc ...

(born 1940), British theatre and television actress *

Estelle Lawson Estelle Page, née Lawson (March 22, 1907 - May 7, 1983) was an American amateur golfer. A native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, her father was Bob Lawson, the first athletic director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She gradu ...

(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 Dr. Estelle Lazer is an independent archaeologist who has worked on sites in the Middle East, Italy, Cyprus, the UK, Antarctica and Australia. She teaches at the University of Sydney and the University of NSW. Her PhD thesis was based on the ...

, 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 car ...

, American vocal coach *

Estelle M. H. Merrill Estelle M. H. Merrill (, Hatch; pen name, Jean Kincaid; September 30, 1858 – July 29, 1908) was an American journalist and editor of the long nineteenth century. She lectured on various subjects, especially on educational and sociological questi ...

(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. Achievements *EHF Cup: **''Winner:'' 2019 * Hungarian Championship **''Winner'': 2022 *Hungarian Cup **''Winner'' ...

(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 has held the IBO female lightweight title since 2019. As an amateur, she won gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2016 World Championships. As of October 2022, she is ranked as the wo ...

(born 1992), French boxer *

Estelle Massey Osborne Estelle Massey Riddle Osborne (May 3, 1901 – December 12, 1981) was an African American nurse and educator. She served in many prominent positions and worked to eliminate racial discrimination in the nursing field. Early life and education Es ...

(1901–1981), African American nurse and educator * Estelle Nathan, British painter * Estelle Nollet (born 1977), French writer *

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

(born 1927), American actress * Estelle Perrossier (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 European ...

(born 1979), French volleyball player *

Estelle Ramey Estelle Rosemary Ramey (August 23, 1917 – September 8, 2006) was an American endocrinology, endocrinologist, physiologist and feminist who became internationally known for refuting surgeon and Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

(1917–2006), American endocrinologist, physiologist and feminist * Estelle Reiner (1914–2008), American actress and singer *

Estelle Ricketts Estelle Ricketts (1871–?) was an American composer. Personal life Ricketts lived in Darby, Pennsylvania, which is now a suburb of Philadelphia.Walker-Hill 1992 She lived with her mother, her younger brother, and her father, who operated a boardi ...

(1871-?), American composer *

Estelle Roberts Estelle Roberts (10 May 1889 – 30 May 1970) was a British Spiritualist medium. Life and career Roberts is regarded by the British Spiritualist Movement as one of its finest exponents of mediumship in the 20th Century but sceptics have not been ...

(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 grandfat ...

(born 1971), French actress *

Estelle Swaray Estelle Fanta Swaray (born 18 January 1980) is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, actress, and radio presenter from West London. She is known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including Contemporary R&B, R&B, Soul music, soul, re ...

(born 1980), British singer/rapper * Estelle Turrell Smith (1854-19??), social reformer * Estelle Taylor, American silent movie actress *

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

(1894–1953), Australian naturalist and botanical artist *

Estelle Thompson Estelle May Thompson (1930–2003) was an Australian crime fiction writer, author of 16 novels and one biographical memoir. Her crime thrillers have been published worldwide in hardcover and paperback, most also in large print editions, Braille ...

, Australian crime writer * Estelle Weigel (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 in mid-career and became celebrated for her wit and longevity. Early life and early career Born Estelle Ruth Go ...

, 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, Illin ...

(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