The name Esme is a boy's name meaning "loved, admired".

Animal Names for Boys

4 Letter Boy Names

Names Ending in E for Boys

Names That Mean Admired

One Syllable Names for Boys

200 Best Twin Girl Names 2026

Rare Names With Popular Nicknames

Fanciful Girl Names Go Over-the-Top

Vampire Names Bite Back!

The Top Scottish Names You Never Hear

Top City Baby Names

100+ Best Girl Names Ending in a Vowel

Astrology Names: The Ultimate Guide

Twin Names: The Ultimate Guide

Originally a male name in this single-E spelling, Esme or Esmé was borne by the first Duke of Lennox in Scotland in the 16th century, as well as by several of his male descendants. It became predominantly female by the 20th century.

Future sister name?

TWINS! Please help

Sister sets of the same initials 🌷

Sister for Diana Emile?

What would you name a sister to... :hibiscus:

Name for 4th baby

Sister or brother to Uma

What would you name a sister to Snow?

Esme

Nameberry

The name Esme peaked for boys at #12709 in 2021. Esme is also used for girls, ranking #344 in 2024.

The name Esme is a girl's name of French, Persian origin meaning "beloved".

French Names

Persian Names

French Names for Girls

Persian Names for Girls

4 Letter Girl Names

Names Ending in E for Girls

Names That Mean Emerald

One Syllable Names for Girls

Names that Peaked in 2019

Names that Peaked in 2021

Girl Dog Names That Start With E

Dog Names That Start With E

Names That Mean Beloved

Names that Peaked in 2022

French Names that Start With E

Persian Names that Start With E

Esmé comes from the past participle of the Old French verb esmer, meaing "to esteem" or "to love." It can also be considered a derivative of the Spanish name Esmeralda, which means "emerald". 

 Esmé began life as a masculine name, as in its original bearer, Esmé Stewart,1st Duke of Lennox, and Esmée, with the same pronunciation, was the feminine form. Today both spellings are used as feminine given names, along with Anglicizations including Esmay and Esmae.

 
Esmé is a sweet, sophisticated and charming literary name, from J. D. Salinger's classic 1950 story For Esmé, With Love and Squalor. Esme is also one of the most stylish <a href="/list/434/Baby-Names-That-Mean-Love">baby names that mean love.</a>

 A current favorite among celebs, including Samantha Morton, Michael J. Fox and Katey Sagal, Esme got a lot of publicity via the character Esme Cullen, the vampire matriarch of the Olympic Coven in the Twilight Saga. Esme has long been more popular across the pond in the UK, where it currently makes the Top 50 baby girl names.

 The final accent indicates the pronunciation of ez-may, though in English you can just spell it Esme. Whatever the spelling, Esme is one of the fastest-rising <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/e">girl names starting with E</a>.

Scottish Girl Names

May Baby Names

Cool Baby Names for Girls and Boys

Favorite Names on Nameberry

Best Two Syllable Names

Names from Children's Books

Witchy Names

Vintage Girl Names

Witchy Cat Names

Vintage Baby Names

Pretty Girl Names

Top Girl Names 2021

Vampire Baby Names

Baby Girl Names to Love Right Now

Girl Names Like Hazel

Scottish Baby Names

Nameberry's Top Girl Names of the 2010s

New Names of the 2010s

Yupster Baby Names for Girls

February Baby Names

French Dog Names

Taurus Baby Names

Baby Name Favorites Right Now

Girl Names Like Ava

Girl Names Like Emily

Girl Names Like Daisy

Girl Names Like Emma

Names That Mean Honor

Twilight Names

Cat Names That Mean Love

Labrador Retriever Names

Poodle Names

Girl Names Like Aurora

Names That Mean Love

Romantic Names for Girls

Girl Names That Peaked in 2022

Valentine's Day Baby Names

Names like Arlo and Esme: Vowel-Consonant-Consonant-Vowel

Literary Baby Names

Girl Names Like Luna

Dog Names That Mean Love

Chic Girl Names

Fastest-Rising Names on Nameberry

Best Two Syllable Girl Names

Dog Names

Cool Dog Names

Girl Names Like Amelia

Girl Names Like Alice

Names That Mean Green

Cool Cat Names

Australian Shepherd Names

French Cat Names

Traveling Lite Baby Names

Literary Dog Names

Yorkie Names

Cool Girl Names

Literary Cat Names

French Bulldog Names

Jewel and Gemstone Baby Names

Literary Girl Names 

British Girl Names 

Names With Lots of Spellings

French

Persian

Future

England

scotland

Ireland

The name Esme is currently ranked #344 in U.S. births. and peaked for girls at #303 in 2022. The name is most popular in ESME, ESME, and ESME. Esme is occasionally used for boys in 2021.

Esme

Esme Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Popularity of the name Esme

The name Esme in Nameberry Blog Posts

The name Esme in Nameberry Forums

More Lists containing Esme

Advanced Search

Advanced Search

Find your type.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Introducing the Nameberry App