Esther Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Esther is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Esther?
Esther is spelled E-S-T-H-E-R. The name has 6 letters.
Esther at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Esther is commonly understood to mean “star” in Persian.
- Origin
- Esther may derive from the Old Persian word for “star” or may have Hebrew origins linked to the root meaning “hidden.”
- Pronunciation
- ES-ter · 2 syllables
Esther Popularity in 2025
Rank#119
Recorded Births2,277
- Girls usage rose 11 places to #119 and recorded 57 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 Esther Mean?
Esther is commonly understood to mean “star” in Persian.
Origin: Esther may derive from the Old Persian word for “star” or may have Hebrew origins linked to the root meaning “hidden.”
How Do You Pronounce Esther?
PronunciationES-ter
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Esther?
- History
- The name Esther is associated with the biblical figure Esther, who appears in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Esther.
Esther Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2006 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 2,277 | #119 |
| 2024 | Girls | 2,220 | #130 |
| 2023 | Girls | 2,026 | #138 |
| 2022 | Girls | 2,088 | #138 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5 | #12,330 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,847 | #153 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,832 | #148 |
| 2020 | Boys | 5 | #12,022 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,732 | #165 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,860 | #151 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,836 | #165 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,814 | #182 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,625 | #203 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,669 | #199 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,440 | #222 |
| 2013 | Boys | 7 | #9,655 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,344 | #237 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,356 | #233 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,259 | #260 |
| 2010 | Boys | 6 | #10,766 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,254 | #260 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,282 | #267 |
| 2007 | Girls | 1,261 | #272 |
| 2006 | Girls | 1,158 | #287 |
When Was Esther 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.
1918 · Girls
6,574 recorded births
National rank #38
1916 · Girls
6,421 recorded births
National rank #34
1915 · Girls
6,321 recorded births
National rank #33
1917 · Girls
6,281 recorded births
National rank #38
Where Esther 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NJ | #11 | 248 |
| NY | #15 | 428 |
| AK | #60 | 9 |
| SD | #97 | 10 |
| IN | #99 | 64 |
| WA | #103 | 60 |
| MA | #106 | 49 |
| PA | #116 | 88 |