French · Unisex name
Esme
“esteemed, loved”
About the name Esme
Esme is derived from the Old French verb ‘esmer’, meaning ‘to esteem’, and may also have been influenced by the French word ‘aimé’, meaning ‘loved’. The name was originally masculine in Scotland, notably borne by Esmé Stewart, Duke of Lennox, a favourite of King James VI. Over time, Esme has become more commonly used for girls, though it remains a unisex name. The name appears in literature, such as J. D. Salinger’s short story ‘For Esmé, with Love and Squalor’, where Esmé is a young English girl.
- Meaning
- esteemed, loved
- Origin
- French
- Gender
- Unisex
- Pronunciation
- EZ-may(2 syl.)
Middle names for Esme
- Esme Lynn
- Esme Rose
- Esme Claire
- Esme Ann
- Esme Marie
Questions about Esme
- What does Esme mean?
- Esme is a French name meaning "esteemed, loved".
- How do you pronounce Esme?
- Esme is pronounced EZ-may, with emphasis on the first syllable.
- What are variants of Esme?
- Variants of Esme include Esmee, Esmae, Esmé.
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