Esme Overview
- Meaning: To Esteem, to love.
- Gender: Unisex.
- Origin: French, English.
- Pronunciation: EHZ-may, EHZ-mee.
- Popularity: 379th in the US, 74th in the UK.
- Nicknames: Ez, May, Essie.
- Variations: Esmerelda, Amy.
- Namesakes: Esme Stewart, Esme Creed-Miles.
What Does Esme Mean?
Learn about the name Esme including the meaning, gender, origin, popularity, and more.
Esme comes from the Old French verb, esmer, which means “to esteem.” It can also mean “to love.”
What is the Origin of the Name Esme?
The name is an English version of the French girl name Esmé. It originates from the 16th century. This name rose to prominence with Esme Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, who was a French duke.
Esme was originally a masculine name, but it became a popular name for girls in the 20th century. Esme is a name that is also very closely related to the name Amy.
How Popular is the Name Esme?
Esme has been steadily rising in popularity since 2010, according to the Social Security Administration (1). Data before 2010 is not available because the name did not rank in the top 1000 before then. In 2021, Esme ranked as the 379th most popular name in the United States.
Esme is more popular in the United Kingdom, where it ranks as the 74th most popular name for girls (2).
How Do I Pronounce Esme?
There are a few pronunciations for Esme. These include EHZ-may and EHZ-mee.
Is Esme a Boy or Girl Name?
Esme was traditionally used primarily for boys, but it has also gained popularity as a girl’s name since the middle of the 20th century.
Variations of Esme
Esme is very closely related to the names Esmerelda and Amy. Some of these variations are common, while others are fairly rare.
- Aime (French, Latin)
- Ami (Latin, Hebrew, Persian, Indian, Japanese)
- Amy (French, Latin)
- Esmerelda (Spanish)
- Edme (French)
- Elodie (French, Spanish)
- Eloise (English, French, German, Portuguese)
- Enzo (Italian, French, Latin)
- Esma (Spanish)
- Esmay (French)
- Eva (Hebrew, English)
- Ezra (Hebrew)
- Ezzie (Spanish)
- Isla (Spanish, Scottish)
- Ismi (Arabic)
- Maisie (Scottish)
Nicknames for Esme
Esme may be a short girl name, but that does not mean that it does not offer plenty of nickname potential. Both offer plenty of fun nicknames.
- E
- Es
- Essie
- Ezz
- Ezzie
- May
Similar Names to Esme
If you are looking for names similar to Esme, there are a few options. Some names on this list are of a French origin and may sound similar to Esme. Other names are like Esme because they are or were unisex at some point in history.
- Antoinette
- Bernadette
- Blanche
- Charlotte
- Charlie
- Chloe
- Claire
- Clementine
- Danielle
- Desiree
- Dominique
- Francine
- Giselle
- Jacqueline
- Jeanne
- Finley
- Blake
- Marion
- Rowan
- Elliot
Middle Names for Esme
If you love Esme, it is time to pick a middle name that flows nicely. Esme goes easily with other two-syllable names as well as single-syllable names.
- Avice
- Belle
- Blanche
- Blisse
- Claude
- Claudia
- Fleur
- Francis
- Joelene
- Jolie
- Juliet
- Louis
- Louise
- Maelle
- Marie
- Noel
- Odette
- Renee
- Suzette
- Violette
Sibling Names for Esme
If you already have a sweet little Esme, you may want to pick a name for your next child that will compliment Esme nicely. You can pick another name with French origins or a name that sounds nice when paired with Esme.
For a brother:
For a sister:
- Adelaide
- Adrienne
- Agathe
- Amalie
- Arielle
- Edith
- Rosalie
- Zoe
Famous People Named Esme
There are not many famous people with the name of Esme. Some of the earliest people with this name were Dukes in France and Scotland.
- Esme Stewart: 1st Duke of Lennox.
- Esme Percy: Actor.
- Esme Gordon: Architect.
- Esme Creed-Miles: Actress.
- Esmee Denters: Singer.
- Esme Young: Fashion Designer.
- Esme Langley: Writer.
- Esme Hooton: Poet.
- Esme Bianco: Actress and Model.
- Esme Kamphuis: Bobsledder.
Esme in Popular Culture
Esme is a name found in several areas of pop culture. From a villain in a popular children’s series to a comic book mutant, Esme can be found all over the place.
- Esme: Character in J.D. Salinger’s short story “For Esme – With Love and Squalor”.
- Esme Lennox: Character from the book “The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox”.
- Esme Vanderheusen: Character from the soap opera “Passions”.
- Esme Squalor: Character from the tv show “A Series of Unfortunate Events”.
- Esme Cullen: Character from the book “Twilight”.
- Esme Cuckoo: Character from the “X-Men Series”.
- Esme Macknade: Character from the radio show “Home Front”.
- Esme: Character from the tv show “Peaky Blinders”.
- Esme: Character from the tv show “Esme & Roy”.
Esme FAQs
What Names Have the Same Meaning As Esme?
How Unique Is the Name Esme?
In the United States, Esme is a fairly unique name. If you were in a group of 10,000 other people, you would likely only meet two people named Esme. So, if you are concerned about your child having the same name as other children in their class, you do not need to be worried.
If you live in the United Kingdom, the name Esme will be slightly less unique. However, if you live anywhere else in the world, you will likely not run into many people named Esme at all.
Does the Name Esme Have Any Religious Significance?
Esme does not have any significant connections to any religions. It is most commonly chosen by those who practice a Christian religion.
Who Is Esme Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox?
Esme Stewart was the man who originated the name, Esme. His family was originally from Scotland and he returned there when he was 37. He was a favorite of Kind James VI of Scotland. He spent the beginning and end of his life in France.
