Esme Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Esme is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Esme?
Esme is spelled E-S-M-E. The name has 4 letters.
Esme at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Esme is commonly understood to mean “esteemed” or “beloved.”
- Origin
- Esme may derive from the Old French verb “esmer,” meaning “to esteem” or “to love.”
- Pronunciation
- EZ-may · 2 syllables
Esme Popularity in 2025
Rank#298
Recorded Births1,032
- Girls usage rose 45 places to #298 and recorded 124 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Esme Mean?
Esme is commonly understood to mean “esteemed” or “beloved.”
Origin: Esme may derive from the Old French verb “esmer,” meaning “to esteem” or “to love.”
How Do You Pronounce Esme?
PronunciationEZ-may
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Esme?
- History
- The use of Esme as a given name appears in English- and French-speaking countries, with literary references dating back to the early 20th century.
Esme Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,032 | #298 |
| 2024 | Girls | 908 | #343 |
| 2023 | Girls | 950 | #325 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,053 | #304 |
| 2021 | Girls | 828 | #376 |
| 2021 | Boys | 5 | #12,146 |
| 2020 | Girls | 788 | #395 |
| 2019 | Girls | 745 | #426 |
| 2018 | Girls | 565 | #547 |
| 2017 | Girls | 513 | #585 |
| 2016 | Girls | 431 | #682 |
| 2016 | Boys | 5 | #12,185 |
| 2015 | Girls | 419 | #680 |
| 2014 | Girls | 342 | #812 |
| 2013 | Girls | 274 | #926 |
| 2012 | Girls | 260 | #975 |
| 2011 | Girls | 263 | #975 |
| 2010 | Girls | 280 | #925 |
| 2009 | Girls | 240 | #1,063 |
| 2008 | Girls | 154 | #1,508 |
| 2007 | Girls | 106 | #1,940 |
| 2006 | Girls | 105 | #1,918 |
| 2005 | Girls | 68 | #2,524 |
| 2004 | Girls | 75 | #2,309 |
When Was Esme Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2022 · Girls
1,053 recorded births
National rank #304
2025 · Girls
1,032 recorded births
National rank #298
2023 · Girls
950 recorded births
National rank #325
2024 · Girls
908 recorded births
National rank #343
Where Esme Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| RI | #91 | 9 |
| DC | #119 | 6 |
| ME | #153 | 7 |
| SD | #160 | 7 |
| ND | #162 | 6 |
| MA | #168 | 33 |
| HI | #168 | 5 |
| OR | #169 | 21 |