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Esther as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Esther

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The baby name Esther is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɛstər/ (ES-ter).

Esther is Hebrew in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: /ˈɛstər/ (ES-ter)

What is the meaning of the name Esther ?

The baby name Esther is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɛstər/ (ES-ter).

Esther is Hebrew in Origin.

Esther is a biblical name with roots in Persian and Hebrew. Scholars link it to Old Iranian stara or setare, meaning star, and to the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar; in the Book of Esther, the heroine's Hebrew name is Hadassah (myrtle), while Esther is her Persian court name. This duality gives the name associations with both radiance and renewal.

Adopted widely in Jewish communities and later in Christian Europe, the name gained favor in medieval England, surged again with the Puritans, and saw renewed popularity in the early 20th and early 21st centuries. International forms include Ester (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Scandinavian), Hester (older English), Eistir (Irish), Esteri (Finnish), and Esterke (Yiddish diminutive). Common nicknames are Essie, Ettie or Etty, Esti, and Estee. Notable bearers range from Queen Esther of Purim to actress-swimmer Esther Williams, cementing a timeless, luminous profile.

Esther has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Esther

Esther Williams Actor · Born 1921 · United States Esther Williams was a famous American actress and competitive swimmer, best known for her roles in aquatic-themed musicals during the 1940s and 1950s. She starred in films like 'Million Dollar Mermaid' and 'Neptune's Daughter', showcasing her swimming talent and charm. Her unique blend of athleticism and acting made her a standout star of her era. Esther Rolle Actor · Born 1920 · United States Esther Rolle was an American actress best known for her role as Florida Evans on the television series 'Good Times'. She also appeared in 'Maude' and the film 'Driving Miss Daisy'. Her performances often highlighted her strong, nurturing character. Esther Ralston Actor · Born 1902 · United States Esther Ralston was an American actor best known for her work in silent films during the 1920s. She starred in 'The American Venus' and 'Old Ironsides', which showcased her talent and charm. Her career transitioned into the early sound era, but she is most remembered for her silent film roles.
Esther Victoria Abraham Actor · Born 1916 · India Esther Victoria Abraham, better known by her stage name Pramila, was an Indian actress and the first woman to be crowned Miss India in 1947. She appeared in several films during the 1930s and 1940s, including 'Bhikharan' and 'Mother India'. Pramila was also a successful film producer and a prominent figure in the Indian film industry. Esther Cañadas Actor · Born 1977 · Spain Esther Cañadas is a Spanish model and actress, best known for her work in the fashion industry and her role in the film 'The Thomas Crown Affair'. Born in 1977, she became a prominent figure in the 1990s, gracing the covers of major fashion magazines and walking the runway for top designers. Esther Acebo Actor · Born 1983 · Spain Esther Acebo is a Spanish actress best known for her role as Mónica Gaztambide in the popular TV series 'La Casa de Papel' (Money Heist). Born in 1983, she has become a recognizable face in international television through this series. Her performance in 'La Casa de Papel' has been a significant part of her acting career.

Celebrity babies named Esther

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Esther Ciccone Madonna singer ★★★★★
Esther McGregor Ewan McGregor film director ★★★★★

Esther – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2025 #1 — 411
NG Girls 0 #2 26,263 15,093
FJ Girls 0 #3 7 583
GH Girls 0 #3 3,705 6,973
FJ 0 #6 1 374
NL Girls 0 #8 11,283 5,933
HT 0 #10 3 399
PA Girls 0 #10 2,066 9,861
HT Girls 0 #13 11 950
KR Girls 0 #14 2 572
BF Girls 0 #15 3 315
GH 0 #15 670 5,396
BW 0 #17 3 960
FJ Boys 0 #17 1 603
NL 0 #18 900 2,481
NA 0 #20 14 2,537
NG 0 #20 495 5,926
CM Girls 0 #21 2,350 11,671
HN 0 #21 2 704
NA Girls 0 #22 448 7,146
Spain Girls 0 #28 24,760 5,561
BI Girls 0 #29 5 726
CM 0 #29 27 2,592
NL Girls 2014 #30 73 73
BN 0 #31 2 2,297
HN Girls 0 #32 7 884
BW Girls 0 #33 141 4,216
ID 0 #34 6 2,238
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
SG Girls 0 #38 2,061 18,916
MO 0 #40 13 2,706
SG 0 #41 322 11,010
MT 0 #43 1 1,767
Spain 0 #45 1,576 2,326
PR 0 #47 9 1,497
HN Boys 0 #52 1 749
Iceland Girls 0 #52 11 132
MY 0 #54 380 12,352
PE Girls 0 #54 8,517 14,861
LU 0 #55 12 2,830
Sweden Girls 2022 #58 174 1,568
TW 0 #61 40 4,523
PR Girls 0 #62 120 3,171
IN 0 #69 3 2,963
ID Girls 0 #71 28 3,319
AO 0 #73 5 2,729
CN 0 #73 13 3,857
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
ZA Girls 0 #77 5,869 25,928
MY Girls 0 #83 3,416 24,821
JM 0 #88 6 3,714
PA 0 #90 41 3,797
BN Girls 0 #91 16 5,459
BO Girls 0 #92 2,095 9,488
AF Girls 0 #94 1 2,402
MX Girls 0 #97 9,516 17,781
EC 0 #99 17 2,502
Norway Girls 2025 #101 26 453
QA 0 #101 6 7,011
OM 0 #102 15 6,215
PH 0 #104 7 5,607
HK Girls 0 #106 1,624 16,104
UY Girls 0 #108 1,194 6,731
EC Girls 0 #111 150 3,650
HU 0 #114 2 1,675
KW 0 #114 8 5,216
HK 0 #115 325 8,483
MO Girls 0 #119 145 7,056
CY Girls 0 #123 3 3,755
MT Girls 0 #124 28 3,773
CR 0 #125 34 5,526
GR 0 #127 9 3,911
Switzerland Girls 2024 #128 8 1,786
United States Girls 2024 #129 2,206 8,487
MU 0 #134 4 3,613
Belgium Girls 2024 #137 49 424
EE Girls 0 #140 3 1,888
Canada Girls 2024 #142 156 2,795
PE 0 #149 187 6,350
BW Boys 0 #152 3 4,685
IL Girls 0 #152 978 11,648
LU Girls 0 #152 34 4,850
PS 0 #160 59 5,692
AO Girls 0 #162 48 4,575
UY 0 #162 16 2,477
AE 0 #164 14 10,220
AR Girls 0 #164 1,158 8,289
CO Girls 0 #167 5,426 16,140
IL 0 #169 110 6,291
TW Girls 0 #169 112 8,139
OM Girls 0 #170 244 15,987
AR 0 #175 12 2,915
SI Girls 0 #176 2 2,769
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
Austria 0 #183 31 850
CN Girls 0 #183 200 8,829
CZ 0 #183 4 3,154
DK 0 #184 20 5,198
DK Girls 0 #186 148 7,429
BO 0 #188 224 6,868
CR Girls 0 #189 520 11,342
RU 0 #193 2 3,641
JM Girls 0 #197 63 7,507
PS Girls 0 #198 503 10,981
JP Girls 0 #209 37 6,592
GR Girls 0 #210 33 6,293
QA Girls 0 #210 108 15,378
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
HU Girls 0 #214 10 3,308
GT Girls 0 #225 365 7,500
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
BG Girls 0 #228 4 3,559
France Girls 2021 #229 197 3,185
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
MO Boys 0 #232 3 5,842
MX 0 #232 197 8,339
Austria Girls 0 #237 221 1,885
PT 0 #243 8 4,161
EC Boys 0 #245 2 3,322
NA Boys 0 #246 8 6,830
GH Boys 0 #249 99 8,138
GT 0 #252 63 5,948
Germany Girls 0 #255 1,225 4,949
France Boys 1967 #277 3 1,124
ZA 0 #280 168 14,421
SA 0 #281 15 10,560
PH Girls 0 #288 104 13,098
JM Boys 0 #290 4 6,876
HR Girls 0 #291 4 3,687
JO Girls 0 #296 30 7,570
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
Germany 0 #297 146 2,542
KW Girls 0 #303 221 19,177
BR 0 #304 42 5,969
SD Girls 0 #311 35 7,678
MU Girls 0 #317 35 8,539
AE Girls 0 #320 237 20,968
KZ Girls 0 #328 5 5,862
CN Boys 0 #330 2 9,639
CZ Girls 0 #330 12 5,378
CO 0 #331 158 7,768
PL Girls 0 #357 8 5,096
CL Girls 0 #367 733 14,098
MU Boys 0 #367 3 8,477
Finland Girls 0 #368 24 1,368
CL 0 #386 26 6,867
JO Boys 0 #388 2 7,057
UY Boys 0 #389 11 5,922
YE 0 #396 3 8,639
BD Girls 0 #400 7 8,413
PT Girls 0 #400 52 7,952
EG 0 #404 9 6,387
LY 0 #433 104 12,703
IN Girls 0 #436 200 13,121
PA Boys 0 #455 27 9,305
SA Girls 0 #457 533 25,931
BR Girls 0 #458 700 12,708
IT Girls 0 #458 2,163 9,415
SD Boys 0 #463 4 10,523
CM Boys 0 #464 87 12,054
RU Girls 0 #466 33 11,913
AR Boys 0 #476 8 7,628
IQ Girls 0 #488 17 11,303
BH 0 #490 64 17,937
GT Boys 0 #495 5 7,625
CR Boys 0 #507 4 10,188
IR Girls 0 #520 11 8,334
Finland Girls 2026 #550 215 3,895
HK Boys 0 #552 6 12,905
PS Boys 0 #559 3 10,655
IT 0 #563 153 4,183
BO Boys 0 #577 16 9,244
LB 0 #596 63 13,263
IL Boys 0 #598 10 10,983
NG Boys 0 #629 370 16,906
SG Boys 0 #685 13 17,960
CL Boys 0 #695 6 13,390
QA Boys 0 #739 5 18,093
KW Boys 0 #758 12 18,755
BR Boys 0 #779 7 12,213
PE Boys 0 #783 96 14,506
EG Girls 0 #786 175 14,742
TN 0 #793 37 13,765
Spain Boys 0 #809 122 5,610
OM Boys 0 #871 11 17,948
CO Boys 0 #882 39 15,656
MX Boys 0 #885 98 16,355
United States Boys 2020 #894 5 7,187
EG Boys 0 #917 9 15,035
NL Boys 0 #929 23 5,873
ZA Boys 0 #1,029 150 25,619
IN Boys 0 #1,037 3 16,750
MA 0 #1,044 85 20,986
MY Boys 0 #1,084 28 25,439
AE Boys 0 #1,136 8 22,615
DZ 0 #1,152 25 20,130
TR 0 #1,167 45 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,446 26 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,593 22 28,008

Esther is popular in 92 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
Ireland
NL
Scotland, United Kingdom

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People also ask about Esther

Esther is predominantly a girl's name.
Esther is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈɛstər/ (ES-ter).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Ester, Esti, Estée and Estee.
Across languages, Esther has these equivalents: Hebrew: אֶסְתֵּר (Esther/Ester), Russian: Эстер (Ester).
Yes, very popular — Esther ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 12 countries.
Esther ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Esther's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 8 notable people named Esther are in our database, including Esther Williams (Actor), Esther Rolle (Actor), Esther Ralston (Actor).
Yes — at least 2 celebrity couples have chosen Esther for their child, including Madonna.