Girl nameCurrently #344 in the USRising
Esme
EZ-may//ˈɛzmeɪ//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20224 lettersStarts with E
Meaning & origin
Esteemed, loved
Esme comes from the Old French 'esmé', meaning esteemed or loved, and has a delicate literary pedigree from J.D. Salinger's short story 'For Esmé — with Love and Squalor'. Its refined, gentle sound has made it a fashionable choice in recent years.
Esme's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Esme |
|---|---|
| 1913 | 5 |
| 1939 | 5 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1975 | 6 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1981 | 16 |
| 1982 | 8 |
| 1983 | 6 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1986 | 9 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1988 | 8 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1990 | 7 |
| 1991 | 8 |
| 1992 | 7 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1994 | 19 |
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1996 | 19 |
| 1997 | 22 |
| 1998 | 29 |
| 1999 | 45 |
| 2000 | 35 |
| 2001 | 42 |
| 2002 | 67 |
| 2003 | 76 |
| 2004 | 75 |
| 2005 | 68 |
| 2006 | 105 |
| 2007 | 106 |
| 2008 | 154 |
| 2009 | 240 |
| 2010 | 280 |
| 2011 | 262 |
| 2012 | 260 |
| 2013 | 274 |
| 2014 | 342 |
| 2015 | 419 |
| 2016 | 436 |
| 2017 | 513 |
| 2018 | 565 |
| 2019 | 744 |
| 2020 | 787 |
| 2021 | 831 |
| 2022 | 1,052 |
| 2023 | 950 |
| 2024 | 901 |
Esme through the decades
- Esme peaked in 2022, when 1,052 babies were named Esme in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Esme has risen 244% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Esme currently ranks #344 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
Es
Variants & spellings
EsméEsmee