Esme Name Meaning

Esme is a name with a lot of heart. As mentioned above, it means “to esteem or value” and “beloved” or “darling” in French and Persian respectively. It is a name that carries with it the idea of being highly valued and loved, which is a beautiful sentiment for any parent to give their child.

History of the Name Esme

Esme has its roots in French and Persian cultures. The name originated in France, where it was a medieval form of the name Esmée, which is derived from the Old French “esmer,” meaning “to esteem or value.” In Persian, the name Esme means “beloved” or “darling.”

Popularity of the Name Esme

Esme is a relatively rare name, and it has never been a particularly popular name in the United States. However, it has seen a resurgence in recent years, likely due to its unique and charming meaning. In 2020, Esme was the 714th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, according to data from the Social Security Administration.

Famous Esmes

Esme, though not a common name, has been borne by a few notable people in history and literature, such as Esme Lennox, the protagonist of the novel “The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton, and Esme Creed-Miles, an English actress who played the lead role in the Amazon series “Hanna.”

Final Thoughts on the Name Esme

Esme is a name with a rich history and a charming meaning. Its rarity makes it a unique and special choice for parents-to-be, and its recent resurgence in popularity is a testament to its enduring appeal. So, if you’re looking for a baby name that’s both elegant and meaningful, Esme might just be the perfect fit.

Infographic of Esme name meaning, which is to love
Ask your friends & family about Esme…

Esme Name Popularity

How popular is the name Esme? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 — 0 0%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 — 0 0%
1957 — 0 0%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 — 0 0%
1978 — 0 0%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 — 0 0%
1982 — 0 0%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 — 0 0%
1986 — 0 0%
1987 — 0 0%
1988 — 0 0%
1989 — 0 0%
1990 — 0 0%
1991 — 0 0%
1992 — 0 0%
1993 — 0 0%
1994 — 0 0%
1995 — 0 0%
1996 3,572 5 0.0003%
1997 3,559 5 0.0003%
1998 3,383 6 0.0004%
1999 2,549 16 0.0011%
2000 3,631 5 0.0003%
2001 2,655 15 0.001%
2002 2,275 24 0.0016%
2003 2,232 27 0.0018%
2004 1,946 41 0.0027%
2005 2,281 28 0.0018%
2006 1,858 50 0.0032%
2007 1,840 52 0.0033%
2008 1,553 83 0.0054%
2009 1,041 188 0.0126%
2010 953 208 0.0144%
2011 976 198 0.0139%
2012 972 197 0.0138%
2013 925 210 0.0147%
2014 790 287 0.0197%
2015 660 370 0.0254%
2016 674 363 0.0252%
2017 585 448 0.0321%
2018 526 516 0.0376%
2019 414 691 0.051%
2020 414 702 0.0552%
2021 400 701 0.0573%
2022 305 1,016 0.077%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Esme

If you like Esme, you’ll love these other names like Esme.

What names sound like Esme?

If you like how Esme sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Esme.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Esmae

Esteemed

French

Esmie

Emerald

Spanish

Isme

Esteemed

French

What names are similar to Esme?

Find a name that’s like Esme, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Amy

Beloved one

English

Asma

High status

Arabic

Cosme

Order, beauty

Greek

Desme

Binding oath

Greek

Edma

Wealthy protector

English

Edmea

Wealthy protector

English

Edmee

Wealthy protector

English

Elma

Will helmet, protection

German

Em

Industrious, striving; work; rival; laborious; eager; entire, universal; emerald

Spanish

Ema

Entire, universal

German

Emma

Whole or universal

German

Emme

Entire, universal

German

Emmey

Rival; laborious; eager

Latin

Emmi

Rival; laborious; eager; entire, universal

Latin

Emmie

Industrious, striving; work; rival; laborious; eager; entire, universal; emerald

Spanish

Emmy

Rival

German

Erma

Complete, universal

German

Esma

A shortened form of Esmeralda.

French

Esmay

Esteemed

French

Esmee

Esteemed

French

Essie

Star; myrtle leaf

Persian

Essy

Myrtle leaf

Persian

Esta

Latin

Estee

Star; myrtle leaf

Persian

Osma

Scandinavian

Lists With Esme

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Esme.

5 Comments

  1. Esme in Ancient Hebrew means “kind protector of God”

    Reply

  2. My husband and I really didn’t have a name picked out until about 8 months of pregnancy. We wanted something different and not from a family name as we had done with our previous 3 children. One night my husband said how do you like Esme Rose? My heart exploded knowing this was the one! A lot of people mispronounce it when we tell them her name but after a few times of saying it they pronounce it correctly. I love how simple and sweet her name is and i don’t know another person with this name ?

    Reply

  3. Love the sound and have a cousin with the name!

    Reply

  4. Esme was on a baby name list that we found and it was one of the few names we agreed on because of how sweet and romantic it sounded (with our Valentine’s Day due date it seemed perfect) but it didn’t have a special meaning, so it almost got vetoed. However, after some research we found out Esme is often shorr for “Esmeralda“. My family almost moved to Washington State in one of the more mountainous areas when I was younger and I’ve been in love with the place ever since. However, my stepmom fell pregnant and the move never happened. I’ve wanted to live there ever since and I doubt I ever will. The Esmeralda Peaks in WA are beautiful, and we didn’t like the name Esmeralda but we still loved Esme. So somehow, we found the romantic and old-timey ring to it perfect with the idea of the Esmeralda Peaks, and we chose Esme! Picking a middle name that flowed was difficult, but we went with Elise and it seems to work.

    Reply

  5. While I was pregnant, I was receiving a lot of emails with lists of baby names. One of the names that stood out to my husband and me was Esme. We like how it sounds and what it means (beloved, esteemed).

    The only thing I don’t love about the name is that so many people seem to have trouble pronouncing it. We pronounce it Ezz-May but a lot of people say Ezz-Mee. It’s a minor annoyance though! We’re so happy we chose this name, and we hope our baby loves it too.

    Reply

Share your thoughts on the name Esme

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required *

*