Hester
Hester is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Star.
Origin and history
Hester is a classic female name of Greek origin, derived from Esther, meaning 'star'. Once a popular choice in early America, its usage has declined significantly, making it rare in contemporary birth records.
Popularity in the United States
14,227 babies in the United States have been named Hester since 1880. It ranks #1318 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2091.
States where it is most popular
- NC (8.7 %)
- KY (8.3 %)
- VA (8.1 %)
- SC (7.9 %)
- TX (6.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 796 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,401 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,663 |
| 1910-1920 | 3,111 |
| 1920-1930 | 3,037 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,523 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,115 |
| 1950-1960 | 754 |
| 1960-1970 | 348 |
| 1970-1980 | 239 |
| 1980-1990 | 154 |
| 1990-2000 | 49 |
| 2000-2010 | 15 |
| 2010-2019 | 12 |
| 2020-2029 | 10 |
Famous people named Hester
- Hester Chapone: Writer, Essayist
Nicknames
Hettie, Essie, Hess
Fun facts
- Hester Prynne is the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter.
- Hester evolved in Medieval Europe as a Latinized or English variant of the biblical Hebrew name Esther.