The story behind Esme
Anglicized spelling of French Esmé.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): EH1 Z M EY1 / EH1 Z M IY0
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Esme ranked #298 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Esme
Esmé
First recorded as a male given name in Scotland in the sixteenth century, probably from French esmé (“esteemed”), or confused with Aimé / Aimée. Clipping of Esmerelda or…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends É
- same syllable count
- similar length
Esmee
Ultimately from French; see English Esmé.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anne
From French Anne (“Ann”), from Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jane
Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Middle French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lise
From the French, and possible also from Scandinavian, Lise. Variant of more common English Lisa.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rene
Borrowed from French René. From French René.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Esme
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adela
Latinate form of French Adèle, short form of Germanic compound names beginning with Proto-Germanic *aþalaz (“noble”). Compare Old English æþele, English athel. Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adele
Borrowed from French Adèle, equivalent of Adela, from a Germanic root meaning “noble”. Compare athel, German edel, Old English æþele. From French Adèle. Borrowed from French…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Esme
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Gaby
Short form of Gabrielle.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Gigi
Borrowed from French Gigi. Sometimes a pet form of English names such as Virginia or Genesis. Occasionally from initials G.G. (e.g. George General 'Gigi' Gryce).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection