Estelle (given name)
Encyclopedia
Estelle is a female given name
of French derivation usually interpreted as meaning "star" via equation with "estoile" the Old French form of the Latin "stella". Saint Estelle
is the name of a third century Occitan martyr
: the older form of her name Eustalia indicates a Greek origin, the prefix eu denoting "good". The name Estelle was brought by the Normans to Great Britain, where it likely absorbed the Anglo-Saxon name Estrilde derived from Easter
, either referencing the Christian festival or the dawn goddess
whose name defaulted to that feast, combined with the element "hilde" meaning "warrior". Obsolete in English usage after the Middle Ages, Estelle was revived in the Victorian era after Charles Dickens
gave the variant form Estella to a character in his 1860-61 novel Great Expectations
; Estelle and Estella were popular from 1880 to 1930 with a subsequent decline to become unfashionable since 1960. Estelle is also used as an alternate form of Esther
.
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
of French derivation usually interpreted as meaning "star" via equation with "estoile" the Old French form of the Latin "stella". Saint Estelle
Saint Estelle
Saint Estelle was a 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 to be baptized. When she refused to abjure, her father condemned...
is the name of a third century Occitan martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
: the older form of her name Eustalia indicates a Greek origin, the prefix eu denoting "good". The name Estelle was brought by the Normans to Great Britain, where it likely absorbed the Anglo-Saxon name Estrilde derived from Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, either referencing the Christian festival or the dawn goddess
Eostre
Old English Ēostre and Old High German Ôstarâ are the names of a Germanic goddess whose Anglo-Saxon month, Ēostur-monath , has given its name to the festival of Easter...
whose name defaulted to that feast, combined with the element "hilde" meaning "warrior". Obsolete in English usage after the Middle Ages, Estelle was revived in the Victorian era after Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
gave the variant form Estella to a character in his 1860-61 novel Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens. It was first published in serial form in the publication All the Year Round from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. It has been adapted for stage and screen over 250 times....
; Estelle and Estella were popular from 1880 to 1930 with a subsequent decline to become unfashionable since 1960. Estelle is also used as an alternate form of Esther
Esther (given name)
Esther is a feminine given name. It may derive from the Old Persian stāra or - more likely - from the name of the Babylonian goddess of love, Ištar . It was adopted as an English name in the 17th Century...
.
List of people with the given name Estelle
- Estelle (musician)Estelle (musician)Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
, British singer/rapper - Estelle AsmodelleEstelle AsmodelleEstelle Asmodelle , formerly known as Estelle Maria Croot, is an Australian model, belly dancer, writer, musician and actress...
, Australian transsexual model, dancer and actress - Estelle BennettEstelle BennettEstelle Bennett was a member of the girl group The Ronettes, along with her sister Ronnie Spector and cousin Nedra Talley....
, American singer (the Ronettes) - Estelle BlackburnEstelle BlackburnEstelle Blackburn is a journalist who has played a crucial role in the review of some controversial criminal cases in Western Australia.-Early life:...
, award-winning Australian journalist - Estelle Brown, American singer (the Sweet Inspirations)
- Estelle B. Freedman (b. 1947), American historian specializing in feminism
- Estelle GettyEstelle GettyEstelle Scher-Gettleman , better known by her stage name Estelle Getty, was an American actress, who appeared in film, television, and theatre...
, American actress - star of The Golden Girls - Estelle HarrisEstelle HarrisEstelle Harris is an American stand-up comedienne, actress, voice artist, and comedienne, often recognized for her shrill, grating voice. She is best known for her role as Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld from 1992 to 1998, as the voice of Mrs...
, American actress - Estelle Costanza in Seinfeld' - Estelle Levitt, America pop music composer
- Estelle LefébureEstelle LefébureEstelle Lefébure is a French actress and model. She was one of the top fashion models in the 1980s and 1990s. During her marriage with singer David Hallyday, she was known professionally as Estelle Hallyday....
, French model - Estelle LieblingEstelle LieblingEstelle Liebling was a vocal coach who taught singing using the three-register method. She stressed the "unmusicalness" of the seventh octave, as well as the avoidance of the head register in men. One of Liebling's most famous pupils was Beverly Sills, a coloratura soprano...
, American vocal coach - Estelle MorrisEstelle MorrisEstelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley, PC was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley from 1992 to 2005, and served briefly in the Cabinet as Education Secretary.-Early life:...
Baroness Morris of Yardley, British politician - Estelle Newman (1896-1964), American philanthropist
- Estelle ParsonsEstelle ParsonsEstelle Margaret Parsons is an American theatre, film and television actress and occasional theatrical director.After studying law, Parsons became a singer before deciding to pursue a career in acting. She worked for the television program Today and made her stage debut in 1961...
, American actress - Oscar winner for Bonnie and Clyde - Estelle Van Schalkwyk, South African wildlife artist
- Estella WarrenEstella WarrenEstella Dawn Warren is a Canadian actress, former fashion model, and a former synchronized swimmer. Her swimming career includes time on the National Canadian Team including 3 national titles. Her work in modeling is known through publications such as Sports Illustrated as well as working for...
, Canadian actress - Estelle WinwoodEstelle WinwoodEstelle Winwood was an English stage and film actress who moved to the United States in mid-career and became celebrated for her longevity.-Early life and early career:...
, British character actress