Esther
How to say it: ES-tur · /ˈɛstər/
Possibly from Hebrew or Persian meaning 'star'. Old Testament queen who saved her people.
Esther was the 139th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 2,277 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1900s, its births are up about 39% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #112 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #139 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 2,277 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,375 |
| Peak decade | 1900s |
| Change over 10 years | +39% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #112 |
| In France, 2025 | #281 among girls’ names, 195 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long established with a high in the 1900s, Esther now rests far below that peak while remaining in steady use. Renewed growth is expected from here.
What goes with it
Crisp and breathy with a strong consonant edge, Esther carries biblical and royal associations. Ruth or Edith pairs well.
Middle names that flow with Esther →
Nicknames
- Essie
- Etta
Honouring a Esther in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Esther is about 1 in 58.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #281 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #150. Ireland: #209.
Famous people named Esther
- Esther Duflo (born 1972)French-American economist
- Esther Williams (1921–2013)American swimmer, actress and singer
- Esther Vilar (born 1935)Argentine writer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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