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.
How to spell Esme
The standard spelling is Esme. Common variants include Esmé, Esmee, Esmae, but Esme is the most widely used form.
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, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. 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
Common questions
- What does the name Esme mean?
- From the Old French esmé, 'esteemed' or 'loved,' the past participle of esmer.
- What does Esme mean in French?
- In French, Esme means "Esteemed, beloved." 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.
- How do you pronounce Esme?
- Esme is pronounced ˈɛz.meɪ. Say it as ES-me, with the stress on the "es" syllable.
- How do you spell Esme?
- The standard spelling is Esme. Common spelling variants include Esmé, Esmee, Esmae.
- Is Esme a boy or girl name?
- Esme is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Esme?
- Esme ranked #298 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.