Fun Facts About the Name Stark
- 257 babies named Stark: U.S. records list 257 babies given the name Stark from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Stark Mean?
Stark is an English surname used as a given name; its established meaning is "strong" or "severe." It derives from Middle English stark, from Old English stearc, an adjective whose senses included "stiff, rigid" and, by extension, "stern, harsh, strong." As a byname it likely described someone's strength or severity, though the adjective's breadth leaves the exact nuance uncertain. The German surname Stark developed separately from Middle High German stark, "strong," and was also used as a nickname. The given name is a transferred surname, not a traditional personal name with an ancient given-name history.
Stark Name History & Origins
Old English stearc is attested with senses ranging from "stiff" and "rigid" to "severe" and "strong." Middle English stark continued that range, and English bynames formed from such adjectives became inherited surnames in the later Middle Ages. In German-speaking lands, Stark arose independently from Middle High German stark and belongs to the same nickname type. As a first name, Stark is uncommon and chiefly a transferred use of the surname. Its appearance as the family name of House Stark in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire is a literary association with an existing surname, not the name's origin.
How Popular is the Name Stark?
Stark has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2019. Its best rank was #3,982 in 2019.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,752 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #10,729 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #6,174 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #5,603 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #5,305 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #5,660 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #3,982 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2018 | #6,650 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #6,030 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #5,285 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2015 | #5,710 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #4,842 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #4,597 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #5,688 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #7,982 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #13,984 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #4,554 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1950 | #4,135 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Stark Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Stark's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Stark's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.