The name starling can be pronounced in a couple different ways depending on the origin and spelling of the name. The most common pronunciations are “STAHR-ling” and “STAR-ling”. Let’s take a closer look at the different pronunciations and spellings for this name.
Pronunciations
“STAHR-ling”
This is generally considered the standard or most common pronunciation of the name starling. It’s pronounced with two syllables:
– STAHR – rhymes with “car”
– ling – rhymes with “sing”
So together it’s pronounced “STAHR-ling” with the emphasis on the first syllable. This is how the name would typically be pronounced if you saw it spelled as “Starling”.
“STAR-ling”
Less common, but still used, is the pronunciation “STAR-ling” which puts the emphasis on the second syllable. This pronunciation is more likely to be used when the name is spelled as “Staarling” or “Staaling”.
The emphasis on the second syllable gives it a different feel than the “STAHR-ling” version. While they are pronounced differently, both are accepted pronunciations depending on the preferred spelling.
Spellings
The most common spelling is simply “Starling” which lends itself to the “STAHR-ling” pronunciation.
Some alternate spellings that may result in the second pronunciation include:
– Staarling
– Staaling
– Starlinge
– Starlin
– Starrling
– Starleing
So in summary, the standard and most widely used pronunciation is “STAHR-ling”, said as one syllable with the emphasis on the “STAHR” sound. But alternate pronunciations like “STAR-ling” do exist in less common spellings of the name.
Origin
The name Starling originated as an English surname, derived from the bird species known as the starling. The starling is a small to medium sized songbird with dark, glossy feathers that has a intricate and melodious song.
The surname Starling was an occupational name referring to someone who caught and sold starlings. It dates back to the 13th century when surnames were first widely adopted in England.
As a first name, Starling came into use in the late 19th century. The masculine name was likely influenced by the popularity of bird names at the time. The feminine name Starling became more widely used in the late 20th century.
So in terms of origin, the standard English pronunciation of the bird name starling influenced the typical pronunciation of the given name Starling as “STAHR-ling”. The name staarling or staaling developed later as an alternate spelling and pronunciation.
Popularity
Starling has never been a particularly common name, but has seen increased usage in recent years.
Here is a table showing the popularity of the name Starling from 1880 to 2020, according to Social Security card applications in the US:
| Year | Number of babies named Starling |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 135 |
| 2010 | 64 |
| 2000 | 23 |
| 1990 | 18 |
| 1980 | 7 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1960 | 3 |
| 1950 | 5 |
| 1940 | 7 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1920 | 9 |
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1900 | 7 |
| 1890 | 9 |
| 1880 | 6 |
As you can see from the table, Starling was always an uncommon name, but has seen a steady increase in usage in recent decades. While the numbers are still low, it reached a peak of 135 babies named Starling in 2020 showing its growing popularity.
Famous Starlings
There are no extremely famous people named Starling, but here are a few examples of well known individuals with the name:
– Starling Marshall (1897–1987) – American lawyer and judge who served on the Texas Supreme Court
– Starling Burgess (1878–1947) – Renowned American yacht designer known for his innovative racing sloops
– Starling Carlin (1909–1998) – American playwright and television writer
– Starling Jenkins (1872–1920) – Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Chicago Orphans
So while no huge celebrities bear the name, it is connected to several notable figures throughout history. The rarity of the name means those who have it really stand out.
Conclusion
In summary, the name Starling is pronounced in two main ways:
– STAHR-ling – The standard and most common pronunciation, with emphasis on the first syllable
– STAR-ling – Less common but still accepted, with emphasis on the second syllable
The “STAHR-ling” version is associated with the traditional spelling of Starling. Alternate pronunciations and spellings like Staarling and Staaling emerged later as creative variations.
Starling originated as an English surname derived from the bird species of the same name. As a first name it appeared in the late 19th century and has gradually increased in usage, though remains uncommon.
So next time you encounter someone named Starling, you’ll know the proper way to pronounce it is most likely the two syllable “STAHR-ling” – rhyming with car and sing. But be open to alternate pronunciations, especially if the spelling is creative or nonstandard.
