Esme
From Old French esme, meaning esteemed or loved, the past participle of a verb meaning to esteem. It took hold in Scotland through French court connections.
Esme in 2025
Esme was given to 1,032 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 640th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 3,213 babies born.
The history of Esme
Esme reached its highest point in 2022, when 1,053 babies were given the name, ranking 638th that year.
Across the 113 years of records since 1913, 10,930 babies have been named Esme. Half of them were born before 2020, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Alpha.
Esme by decade
| Decade | Babies named Esme | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 5,692 |
| 1930s | 5 | 7,220 |
| 1950s | 5 | 8,933 |
| 1960s | 5 | 10,038 |
| 1970s | 17 | 12,136 |
| 1980s | 75 | 7,029 |
| 1990s | 189 | 4,946 |
| 2000s | 968 | 1,922 |
| 2010s | 4,097 | 846 |
| 2020s | 5,564 | 638 |
Where Esme is heading
Esme has risen 146% over the past decade, from 419 babies in 2015 to 1,032 in 2025.
Names like Esme
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Esme.