Esme
Esme sits comfortably in the UK charts at #45 in 2025 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
Persian/French — Esteemed, beloved
About the Name Esme
Esme has held its ground, ranked #45 in 2025 and never far from its best of #35 in 2016 — a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has featured in the UK top 100 for 17 years, demonstrating solid mainstream recognition.
In terms of origin, Esme is rooted in Persian/French, where it means "Esteemed, beloved". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Esme is a very popular name in the UK — yet a class of 28 is small enough that your child will very likely be the only Esme on the register.
In the US it sits at #344 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
⭐ Famous People Named Esme
- Esme Ward — Esme Ward is an English museum professional with an interest in public learning and engagement.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Esme
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Esme
Almost certainly the only Esme in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Esme
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
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Famous People Named Esme
Notable people who share this name, from history to the present day. See full list on Wikipedia