Estelle

Derived from the Old French form of the Latin word for star. It gained traction in English nurseries during the late nineteenth century alongside a wave of imported French names. American parents adopted it steadily through the turn of the century without ever pushing it into the national top one hundred.

The name reads as either ninety-five years old or under five, with little middle ground. Hearers picture tortoiseshell hairpins, high collars, or an infant in linen. It carries the posture of something dusted off intentionally from an older era. Most assume the bearer has opinions on correct postage.