Esai
2025 SSA
About Esai
An energetic and compact Spanish name, likely derived from Esaias or Esau, it is best associated with actor Esai Morales of American Family and Bad Boys fame. Pronounced as EH-sye in Spanish, it may also be said as ee-SYE in English.
A short form of Esaius, inspired by Esau perhaps, Esai may be viewed as a variation of popular Biblical name Isaiah, meaning "salvation of the Lord". If you look to Esau as another source, however, it could mean "hairy", in reference to the tough and hardened appearance of the Biblical Esau.
Coinciding with the Indonesian word for "essay" (from the French essai), Esai is a rare but rising choice in the US, given to 117 boys in a recent year — double the number it was used to a decade earlier. It could make a cool, less popular alternative to on-trend options like Ezra, Levi, Eli, and Silas.
Pronounced EHS-eye.
As of October 2026, Esai ranked #1591 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1259 in 2002.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,161 | 63 | 32.8 |
| 2015 | #2,174 | 63 | 32.9 |
| 2016 | #2,563 | 49 | 25.8 |
| 2017 | #2,279 | 58 | 31.3 |
| 2018 | #2,289 | 59 | 32.5 |
| 2019 | #2,006 | 73 | 40.7 |
| 2020 | #1,849 | 80 | 46.3 |
| 2021 | #2,136 | 67 | 38.3 |
| 2022 | #1,842 | 87 | 49.8 |
| 2023 | #1,652 | 104 | 60.8 |
| 2024 | #1,514 | 117 | 67.9 |
| 2025 | #1,591 | 107 | 62.6 |
World rankings
Similar names
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Esai on lists
Famous Esais
- Esai
another name for the prophet Isaiah (2 Kin. 19:2)
- Esai Manuel Morales
American actor
- Esai Lopez
just a small town kid from Bruni Texas making it out