Girl · #13,427 in 2026

Celesta

The celesta or celeste, also called a bell-piano, is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. It looks similar to an upright piano, albeit with smaller keys and a much smaller cabinet, or a large wooden music box (three-octave). The keys connect to hammers that strike a graduated set of metal plates or bars suspended over wooden resonators.

Current Rank
#13,427
Peak Rank
#1,115 (1921)
Total Babies
2K
5-Yr Trend
-22%
1881
First Year
2024
Last Year
1921
Peak Year
#1115
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
126
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Celesta

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The celesta or celeste, also called a bell-piano, is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. It looks similar to an upright piano, albeit with smaller keys and a much smaller cabinet, or a large wooden music box (three-octave). The keys connect to hammers that strike a graduated set of metal plates or bars suspended over wooden resonators.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The Mustel celesta mechanism The celesta was invented in 1886 by the Parisian harmonium builder Auguste Mustel [ fr ] . His father, Charles Victor Mustel, had developed the forerunner of the celesta, the typophone, in 1860. This instrument produced sound by striking tuning forks instead of the metal plates that would be used in the celesta. The dulcitone functioned identically to the typophone and was developed concurrently in Scotland; it is unclear whether their creators were aware of one another's instrument. The typophone's and dulcitone's uses were limited by its low volume, too quiet to

The Story of Celesta

Celesta first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1881, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1921, when 47 Celestas were born — ranking #1,115 that year. As of 2026, Celesta ranks #13,427 for baby girls with 6 births, falling sharply (-22%). In total, more than 2K Celestas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Celesta

Phonetically similar names — useful when Celesta is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Celesta

What does the name Celesta mean?
The celesta or celeste, also called a bell-piano, is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. It looks similar to an upright piano, albeit with smaller keys and a much smaller cabinet, or a large wooden music box (three-octave). The keys connect to hammers that strike a graduated set of metal plates or bars suspended over wooden resonators.
How popular is Celesta in 2026?
In 2026, Celesta ranks #13,427 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Celesta most popular?
Celesta reached its peak popularity in 1921, ranking #1,115 that year with 47 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Celesta most popular?
Celesta has historically been most popular in Indiana, Arkansas, Georgia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Celesta.
Is Celesta a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Celesta is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Celesta?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Celesta include Izora, Jacie, Samya. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Izora
Peak #1115
👧
Jacie
Peak #1115
👧
Samya
Peak #1115
👧
Clora
Peak #1114
👧
Zettie
Peak #1114
👧
Laurette
Peak #1116
👧
Janina
Peak #1114
👧
Wynell
Peak #1116

About the name Celesta

Celesta is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1881 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Celesta's peak popularity came in 1921 when it ranked #1,115. Use the chart and map above to compare Celesta's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.