Total births
221
Unisex name · since 1902
Celester
Since 1902, U.S. Social Security records show 221 babies named Celester, peaking in 1936. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 221
- total births
- 1902–1965
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
Celester is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 221 have been recorded since 1902.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Celester has been recorded 221 times among girls since 1902, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1910s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1902 to 1965.
- 221 total births
- 1902–1965 years on record
- 1910s peak decade
- 20% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
221 girls have been named Celester since 1902, peaking in the 1910s, last recorded in 1965.
- 221
- total births
- 1902–1965
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
1910s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Celester was born in this single decade.
1936
Single peak year
11 babies were named Celester in 1936 - its busiest year on record.
Celester's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Celester's full recorded timeline at 1933, 49% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 51% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1902, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1936 peak of 11 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Celester at a glance
Last recorded 1965Peak year
1936
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1902
Celester popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1902–1965
- Peak year (1936)
- 11
- Annual births at peak, across 64 years of records
Celester popularity over time - boys
181 total births recorded since 1914 (Celester as boys' name)
Celester by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Celester's strongest decade.
45 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Celester births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 13
1900s
13 births
- 1910s
1910s
45 births
- 1920s
1920s
42 births
- 1930s
1930s
34 births
- 1940s
1940s
39 births
- 1950s
1950s
32 births
- 1960s 16
1960s
16 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 45 births (20% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Celester? ▼
Since 1902, Social Security records show 221 babies named Celester. The most recent recorded year was 1965. Its busiest year on record was 1936, with 11 births.
When was Celester most popular? ▼
Celester was most popular in the 1910s decade with 45 total births. The single peak year was 1936.
Is Celester a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Celester is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 221 births, and as a boy's name it has 181 births.
How long has the name Celester been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Celester since 1902 -- 64 years through the most recent 1965 data.
What names are similar to Celester? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Celeste, Celia, Celine, Celina, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Celester's data
- Celester's usage has stayed within range of its 1910s decade-level peak (45 total births) through the 1960s (16) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Celester
Nearby Names Like Celester
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Celester
Celeste Girl
#197 65,621 births
Celia Girl
#735 56,642 births
Celine Girl
#228 18,522 births
Celina Girl
#971 16,295 births
Celestine Girl
#3964 9,809 births
Compare Celester side by side: Celester vs Celeste Celester vs Celia Celester vs Celine
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1902–1965 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Celester: Baby Name Since 1902 - 221 Births, Peak 1936." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/celester. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Celester draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.