How to say it
ES · me
/ˈɛz.meɪ/
Feminine
Esme
Esteemed, beloved
What it means
From the Old French esmé, 'esteemed' or 'loved,' the past participle of esmer.
Esme comes from Old French esmé, 'esteemed' or 'beloved.' It reached Scotland with Esmé Stewart, the French-raised Duke of Lennox, in the 16th century, and was used for both boys and girls before settling as mostly feminine. Salinger's story 'For Esmé, with Love and Squalor' gave it a literary glow. It reads chic, vintage, and quietly French. Said EZ-may.
Popularity over time
peaked at #298 in 2025, currently #298 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
EZ-may; the final e is sounded.
- Spelling
Esme, Esmé, and Esmee all appear; the accented Esmé is the original.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Esmé Stewart 16th-century Duke of Lennox who carried the name to Scotland
Spelling variants
- Esmé
- Esmee
- Esmae
Names with the same feeling
See Esme from another angle
By meaning
By style