Esther
Esther is a girl's name of Persian origin.
Meaning
Star; possibly derived from the Babylonian goddess Ishtar.
Origin and history
Esther is a classic name of Old Persian origin, traditionally derived from the word for 'star' or linked to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. It became widely established through the biblical Book of Esther and has remained a consistently popular name in the United States since records began in 1880.
Popularity in the United States
271,234 babies in the United States have been named Esther since 1880. It ranks #146 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #139.
States where it is most popular
- NY (13.5 %)
- PA (8.4 %)
- CA (8.3 %)
- TX (6.3 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,476 |
| 1890-1900 | 14,737 |
| 1900-1910 | 20,026 |
| 1910-1920 | 49,212 |
| 1920-1930 | 49,230 |
| 1930-1940 | 25,791 |
| 1940-1950 | 17,639 |
| 1950-1960 | 15,766 |
| 1960-1970 | 10,111 |
| 1970-1980 | 7,299 |
| 1980-1990 | 8,819 |
| 1990-2000 | 9,415 |
| 2000-2010 | 11,488 |
| 2010-2019 | 15,935 |
| 2020-2029 | 12,290 |
Famous people named Esther
- Esther Williams: Actress, Swimmer
- Esther Duflo: Economist, Professor
- Esther Rolle: Actress
Nicknames
Essie, Ettie, Ess
Fun facts
- In the Hebrew Bible, Queen Esther hid her Jewish identity under the Persian name Esther, while her original Hebrew name was Hadassah.
- Esther has maintained continuous, significant usage in the United States, ranking among the top 150 most common female names in recorded SSA history.