Name of the Day: Hester

Happy Thanksgiving! Today’s choice is one of our personal favorites, a variant of a classic name that crackles with a sense of Puritan drama.

Our Name of the Day is the literary, scarlet-tinged Hester.

We’ve spoken before about the place of variants in history. While Madisyn gives us hives, the truth is that few names have one “correct” version – simply one that wins out over time. In Hester’s case, Esther is dominant.

Esther and Hester both became popular in English following the Protestant Reformation. Most sources tell us that the name derives from the Persian for star – sitareh. The noun became aster in Greek, bringing us closer to the personal name. An alternative theory is that it relates to the goddess Ishtar.

Either way, Queen Esther was an Old Testament heroine, the protector of the Jews of Persia. Her story has served to revive the name from time to time. She’s inspired a long line of literary and artistic uses, from Racine to Handel to Sylvia Plath. It was also worn by First Daughter Esther Cleveland and became a staple of the early 20th century.

The Hester spelling occupies a very different corner of the universe. Nathaniel Hawthorne chose the name for his 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter. A tale of shame and guilt among the 17th century Puritans, it’s hard to separate Hester from her scarlet A. And yet it’s worth noting that while Hester may have been an adulteress who bore a child out of wedlock, she’s also a dignified character who keeps her secrets and attempts to lead a quiet life. Hester is far less scandalous than many a soap opera heroine.

For many years, Hester stood as a valid alternative to Esther. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Esther ranked in the Top 100 while Hester lingered 200 spaces back. As Esther fell out of favor, Hester dropped, too.

But while Esther never left the Top 1000, Hester last charted in 1950. And while her more popular sister is now climbing up the charts – and ranks at a relatively popular #280 – Hester remains obscure.

Two English writers have worn the name. Hester Lynch Thrale’s diaries are considered an important source of information about 18th century life. The only modern bearer of the name that springs to mind is Hester Browne, author of the charming chic lit series The Little Lady Agency.

Hester is also the name of a rabbit daemon in The Golden Compass.

Overall, we find Hester an appealingly honest and forthright name. If you like Hannah and Abigail, but long for something truly rare, this one emerges as an option.

8 thoughts on “Name of the Day: Hester”

Hester’s been a favorite since I was a teen. Esther’s a bit too “polyester” for me, but Hester’s lovely! I agree, Hester Prynne really wasn’t a bad person, she just slipped a little. And what a great name she gave her daughter, eh? My only problem with Hester is that she’s almost soley associated with “The Scarlet Letter”. it’s one of my favorite stories but still.. I’d hate to be singly associated with anything, even a classic novel. I think that’s what’s keeping her down.

You’d be surprised how many don’t know much of anything about Hester Prynne besides that scarlet ‘A’, her manner completely escaped my Junior year English class. My teacher once pulled me aside to say “thank you” to me, for ‘getting’ the story. I apparently was the only one in all his classes. It’s surprising.

I think she’s awesome! Hester could be THE alterna-chick of the 21st century!

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I liked the Hester Prynne character (what WAS her daughter’s name – I forget). One of my grandfather’s sisters was named this… I didn’t know her though, she died young.
But the sound of the name…. just don’t like it at all. Not an Esther fan either but I guess I’d pick it over Hester. No good nn come to mind either , Hess is a gas station and Hessy doesn’t sound good either.

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Hester Prynne’s daughter was Pearl. I amaze myself at what I remember.

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I was wondering if you were going to go Puritan today While I would never choose Hester for my own daughter, I think it’s a perfect choice for NotD on Thanksgiving.

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Esther I can kind of dig. But Hester’s too far out these. It looks too close to “pester”. Even though the sound so similar, Esther looks and sounds softer somehow.

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