The story behind Esther
From Ancient Greek Ἐσθήρ (Esthḗr), from Biblical Hebrew אֶסְתֵּר (ʾestēr). Has been connected to Old Persian 𐎠𐎿𐎫𐎼 (a-s-t-r /star-/, “star”) (whence Middle Persian 𐭮𐭲𐭫 (stl /star/, “star”), 𐭮𐭲𐭠𐭫𐭪 (stʾlk /stārag/, “star”), Persian ستاره (sitāra /setâre, “star”)), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (if so, a distant doublet of star); or else to Akkadian 𒀭𒈹 (Ištar, “Ishtar”) (Hebrew עִשְׁתָּר (ʿištār)).
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Dutch entry
Ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἐσθήρ (Esthḗr), from Biblical Hebrew אֶסְתֵּר.
Welsh entry
a female given name from Hebrew אֶסְתֵּר, equivalent to English Esther
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈɛstɚ/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɛstə/
- Dutch: /ˈɛs.tər/
- Welsh: /ˈɛsθɛr/
Popularity
Esther ranked #119 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Esther
Ester
a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Esther From Ancient Greek Ἐσθήρ (Esthḗr), from Biblical Hebrew אֶסְתֵּר (ʾestēr). From Latin Esthēr, from Ancient Greek…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Abner
From Hebrew אבנר (Abner, “father of light”). From אָב (av, “father”) + נור (nur, “light”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Akhtar
Borrowed from Hindustani (through Hindi अख़्तर (axtar) / Urdu اَخْتَر (axtar)) and/or directly from Classical Persian اَخْتَر (axtar, “star”), in turn from Middle Persian…
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Asher
From Hebrew אָשֵׁר ('ashér).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Asser
From Biblical Hebrew אָשֵׁר ('ashér, literally “happy”), cognate with English Asher. Partly confused with Swedish Assar.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Baxtiyār
Borrowed from Classical Persian بختیار (baxtiyār).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Esther
Aabraham
From Biblical Hebrew אברהם ('aḇrāhām), of Biblical origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abdia
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew עוֹבַדְיָה (ovadya).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abednego
From Hebrew עֲבֵד נְגוֹא, itself derived from a reconstructed Aramaic name meaning likely "servant of Nabu" or "servant of Nergal".
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Esther
Aabraham
From Biblical Hebrew אברהם ('aḇrāhām), of Biblical origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aamos
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew עמוס (Amos).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aapeli
Vernacular form of the biblical Abel or Aabel, from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length