Editor’s note: This post was originally published on May 23, 2008. It was substantially revised and re-posted on October 22, 2012.
The bookshelf gave us this name, and the bookshelf could take her away, too.
Thanks to Natalie for suggesting today’s Baby Name of the Day: Esme.
Esme first surfaces as a masculine name in sixteenth century Scotland, derived from the Old French esmer – to respect or admire. The French and Scots had a close diplomatic relationship for centuries, from the 1200s into the sixteenth century, so French names aren’t foreign in Scotland.
The first notable bearer was a Scottish nobleman, an adviser to James IV. Though he lost his position in political turmoil, his descendants held the title Duke of Lennox for generations, and several were also called Esme. Other unusual names: Ludovic, Gabrielle– suggest that the family were daring namers in their day.
Strictly speaking, those early men were Esmé, with the diacritical mark. Women would have been Esmée – though I cannot find any.
The named remained masculine – and very rare – into the 1800s. The name wasn’t any more common in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but Esme definitely switched from masculine to feminine by mid-century.
In 1950 JD Salinger’s short story For Esmé With Love and Squalor appeared in The New Yorker. His Esmé was an orphan, a young woman of extraordinary poise beyond her years. The story remains among the most popular of Salinger’s works. A few years later, William Gaddis used the name for a character in his debut novel, The Recognitions.
While the name lost its accent, it is typically pronounced EZ may, though in our Zoe/Chloe/Penelope era, you might meet a few who prefer EZ mee.
Besides her French origins, Esme could be short for the elaborate Esmeralda, the Spanish word for emerald, and a departure in another literary direction.
Esme has been quietly catching on since the 1990s:
- Actor Anthony Edwards has an Esme, sister to Wallis and Poppy.
- Katey Sagal chose Esme Louise for her daughter.
- Michael J. Fox has three girls, including Esme Annabelle.
Esme caught on just as Emma and Emily were approaching their zenith. She seemed like a sophisticated literary pick, frills-free but still feminine, unexpected but not too out there. The numbers of baby Esmes were growing.
And then came Twilight. For all that Stephenie Meyer is sometimes credited with boosting names like Bella and Jacob, it really isn’t so. The names were already epidemic, chart-topping favorites. Meyer has an ear for names that we are likely to favor today, regardless of historic authenticity. Census records confirm that women were named Esme in the late 1800s, which tracks with vampire matriarch Esme Cullen’s story. But it isn’t a very likely choice.
Esme entered the US Top 1000 in 2010 at #921, a long-awaited arrival. But just as more parents were shortlisting Esme as an unusual possibility for a daughter, others were avoiding her, worried that they’d be asked if they chose the name from the vampire romance.
Still, 258 girls received in the name in 2011, ranking her #981 in the US. Esmee, Esmae, and Ezme are also in use.
Overall, Esme is a literary choice with a lovely meaning and great style. If you can overlook a few references to vampires, Esme remains a standout choice for a daughter.
Is there a name out there other than Esmerelda that Esme can be an abbreviation of
Hmmm … let me ask the community, Ever hopeful … nothing comes to mind.
I like Esmarie, which could shorten to Esme.
To me Esme is hipster rather than vampiric.
I remember a long time ago reading a short story by Saki, in which a woman semi-adopts a dog (?) and calls it Esme – because it is equally suitable for either a male or female. I think the story was written in the early 20th century. No note on pronunciation, alas!
I notice a lot of people writing Esm – did something get cut off by the new blogging platform???
My first encounter with the name Esme was on a professor’s dog! I wonder if she was inspired by the short story? She pronounced the dog’s name ess-may, which is how it’s generally pronounced in Canada, I suppose due to our French influence.
It seems unlikely because (not trying to give away too many spoilers) Esme wasn’t exactly a dog, and his or her behaviour wasn’t socially acceptable! Saki had a very dark sense of humour. I suppose it might have been the inspiration though.
I am vaguely familiar with the ultimate outcome of the story, although I’ve not actually read it (I find I have to be in a very particular mood to read short stories — they’re so often dark!). I used the word *inspiration* somewhat advisedly. I doubt it was an actual homage. However, I can’t really see this particular professor being unfamiliar with the tale since she was quite widely read and specialised in British Lit.
But you’re right, she probably just liked the name on a dog 🙂
It seems implausible that an English Lit professor wouldn’t have read “Esme”, which is a widely-known story by a classic English writer.
Maybe your professor has a dark sense of humour too! Or yeah, just liked the idea of a dog named Esme.
I like Esmée but hesitate about Esme. A long-running Australian drama series (“A Country Practice” which was set in a rural town) had a character called Miss [Esme] Watson, a frumpy whingy woman, and I can’t dissociate the name from her. The only pronunciation for me is EZ-may. That’s how Miss Watson’s name was pronounced, btw.
This how I see this name:
Esme (no accent, pronounced [ez-mee] or [ez-may – faux French pronunciation]) : short form of Esmeralda that works fine on its own, like Jack or Elle.
Esmé (pronounced [ez-MÉ]): Scottish/French masculine name, the feminine form being Esmée.
If you’re going with the French accent, follow French grammar, people! It’s a basic rule: -é is masculine, -ée is feminine – like René/Renée, Aimé/Aimée, Edmé/Edmée. Sorry, but taking names from other languages and misuse them is huge a pet peeve of mine :/
That being said, I find Esme cute and Esmée very elegant and romantic.
I just realised that jasper is also a charactor in twilight books, damn two favourites ruined 🙁
I love the name so much, didn’t realise it was in vampire books though 🙁
I have recently fallen in love with the name Esme! I especially like Genevieve or Juliette for middle names.
I know the blog was posted in 08, and Esme just entered the top 1000 names ss list in the states in 10 – so I really don’t think it will ever be a common name. More common, maybe, but I doubt it will fall into the top 250 in the US.
Good choice with possibly some future pronounciation corrections – but I love it as EZ-may :). Sweet for a child and classy for an adult.
I don’t mind Esmae, and I think it does sidestep the problem of pronunciation rather neatly. The question is whether Esme will eventually be so popular that your daughter doesn’t appreciate having a different spelling of her name. BUT should that come to pass, chances are we’ll see Ezmi and Esmie and Esmee, so she’ll have to spell it anyway. The more I think about it, the more I like it!