Name of the Day: Esme
Thanks to Natalie for suggesting today’s Name of the Day. It’s simple, yet distinctive. Literary, but easy to wear. If you’re looking for a name your a daughter, Esmé is worth considering.
First heard as a male name in Scotland in the sixteenth century, Esmé stems from the Old French word for esteemed or loved. While Esmé was never common, a handful of British notables wore the name into the early 20th century, including several holders of the title Duke of Lennox.
Fast forward to 1950, when JD Salinger’s short story For Esmé With Love and Squalor appeared in The New Yorker. His Esmé was an aristocratic young woman. The story instantly became - and remains among - the most popular of Salinger’s works.
But while the name is now familiar to many, it has never cracked the Top 1000 in the US. It’s not because the character was flawed - on the contrary, she’s a mysterious and appealing creature remembered by a soldier.
While the name often appears in English without the accent, it is still pronounced EZ may - a straightforward pronunciation that should be trouble-free.
The name has been heard in starbaby circles. Actor Anthony Edwards has an Esmé - and a Wallis and a Poppy! Actress Katey Sagal chose Esmé Louise for her daughter. And Michael J. Fox and Tracey Pollin have a daughter called Esmé Annabelle.
Esmé is related to Aimée - or at least they share the same origins. It also sometimes appears as Esmée. And some might use it as a short form of Esméralda. That exotic moniker, however, is actually the Spanish word for emerald, and appears in another classic literary work, Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. His Esméralda is a beguiling gypsy girl born Agnes, but given her exotic moniker in reference to the imitation emerald she wears on her neck.
We’re not opposed to choosing the Spanish gemstone as a formal name, though it is a bit on the hyper-feminine side. But to our ears, it is Esmé that stands out as simple and spirited, sophisticated and yet perfectly suitable for a small child.
Many parents love two-syllable names for their daughters. Instead of Kylie or Zoe, Hailey or Lindsay, why not consider this seldom-heart but well-known literary charmer with a lovely meaning?
Esmé is certainly one to consider.
Filed under: Literary Babes, Names for Girls, Names of the Day, Starbaby |
Tags: Esme, Esmeralda
Esmé is a very sweet name indeed, and I actually have met several. It’s the kind of name that appeals to forward thinking creative parents, I believe. I have searched long and hard for reference to this name IN France, and it appears that it is not, nor has it ever been in any kind of common use there. I am dubious as to whether it is French at all. It may however be a contraction from the French word estimé meaning “esteemed” as you said.
-Elisabeth
http://www.youcantcallitit.com
It is tricky, because the derivation is not from the French we know and love, but from the Norman French that came to Scotland in the 12th century by way of England.
The Normans didn’t invade Scotland. Instead, King David I, ruler of Scotland from 1124 to 1153, introduced Norman-style administrative reforms, founded monasteries and made land grants to a number of French/Anglo-French knights. He himself was born in Scotland, but spent his formative years in England - which, of course, had been invaded back in 1066. The outcome is that David was a Norman by preference, style and habit, if not by birth.
So one can only assume that the French that gave us Esme had its peculiarities. It also stands to reason that it was fashionable, especially among the Southern Scots where the language held on longer.
Esme was never common in Scotland, either - even among families of Norman descent. Most of the common names were recognizable to our ears, even if they have quirky spellings - one study of 13/14th century names found 13 men called William, with ten variant spellings, including Villiame and Williame. Shades of modern baby naming!
So while the name’s early appearance as the given name of Esme Stewart, born in 1542 and eventually the Duke of Lennox, is clear in the historical record, the matter of the language that gave us his name is murky indeed.
Still, if one is eager for a meaning, it’s a defensible definition - if not an entirely satisfactory backstory.
Esme is so cute! It sounds very sophisticated and sweet, but appropriate for an adult. I like it best without the accent, because one of my friends was named Niké (ni-KAY, like Nicky accented differently). She had such a hard time with that accent on official paperwork!
That’s such a good point - the accent does not officially exist in American English, and you’re absolutely right that it can be a headache.
The only Esme that I know is not quite kindergarten aged, but her parents don’t use the accent at all. No one mangles her name. ni KAY would be a burden, indeed!
I love names with a simple, breezy yet distinctive style and Esme certainly fits that bill, it gets extra bonus points too for being relatively unusual and little used too. I’ve only ever met one of Kindergarten age. She was a creative and quietly spirited little girl who suited her name perfectly. However and this is the crux, I just can’t quite picture myself using the name Esme. In short, Esme is a name that I would love to love but for some reason or another it remains consigned to my ‘extended’ list…
Funny how we can love a name, but know that it’s not for us. As someone who grew up with a nickname-proof name (and a very common one, too) I’m not inclined to use something as simple as Esme - though I love it. Should my husband ever set up the aquarium he keeps threatening, I’ll probably use it for a fish.
I named my daughter Esme, pronounced Es-mee. It’s perfect for her, and we love the name!
My French husband and I — an American in Paris — named our daughter Esmé. It is not common here, nor in the US. But we though it was appropriate for our child since the name is an anglophone name (used commonly in the UK for example) with French roots.
We chose to include the accent since that appears to be the “classic” spelling of the name, and the easiest to pronounce. The other options each presented more complicated pronunciation problems:
Esme: without the accent in French, the word becomes unpronounceable. “Emmm? Ezzm?”
Esmée: the French would get it right, but Americans would call her Ez-mee.
Both sides of the family were unfamiliar with the name, but I think the Americans are having a harder time getting used to it. My brother still calls her Esma or Irma, depending on what day it is.
My baby girl is called Esmee. We actually pronounce it Es-mee simply because the first Esmee we came across also did that and there fore it feels most “right”. We dont use the accent simply to save her a life time of trying to get it jotted down everywhere.I agree with ParisTexas :americans don’t get it at all, at least not to start with, while in England the reaction was more of “what a lovely and traditional name !” I simply love the name because it sounds sweet and it suits whatever age you are. A little funny detail is that our other daughter is called Autumn, a name that americans get but is still slightly different” for english people..(totally opposite from Esmee!)It does seem to be more common now though and I guess it will get a little “boost now when theres an Autumn in the royal family…