The Meaning of the Name Estella

In the book Great Expectations, the author Charles Dickens reveals a lot about the characters’ personality through their names. The character Estella is described by Pip as “beautiful and self possessed” (56). Estella is Miss Havisham’s ward and when she was called into a room, Pip states that “her light came along into the long dark passage like a star” (59). The name “Estella” is of Latin origin, with stella meaning star. Like stars, Estella is far away from Pip’s reach and this quality makes Pip’s desire even greater.