Esmé
/EH-Z-M-EY/
Beloved, esteemed — Esmé comes from the Old French esmé, past participle of esmer (to esteem, to love). Originally a masculine name carried into Scotland by French courtiers, it has become predominantly feminine in modern English-speaking use, prized for its soft sound and the tender sense of being held in high regard.
Get Esmé's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Esmé:
How well does Esmé fit your family?
This page tells you what Esmé means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Esmé is a Christian girl name of French origin, meaning “Beloved, esteemed — Esmé comes from the Old French esmé, past participle of esmer (to esteem, to love). Originally a masculine name carried into Scotland by French courtiers, it has become predominantly feminine in modern English-speaking use, prized for its soft sound and the tender sense of being held in high regard.”.
Esmé is a girl's name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Beloved, esteemed — Esmé comes from the Old French esmé, past participle of esmer (to esteem, to love). Originally a masculine name carried into Scotland by French courtiers, it has become predominantly feminine in modern English-speaking use, prized for its soft sound and the tender sense of being held in high regard." and belongs to the Love cluster — names for children loved deeply before they arrive.
Common among American, British, European families, Esmé carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Esmé
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Esmé lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Esmé's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Esmé's saint & feast day →What does Esmé's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Esmé resonates in either tradition.
Esmé's destiny number is 6 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Esmé's full reading →
Does Esmé go with your family's names?
Esmé breaks into 4 sounds: /EH-Z-M-EY/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Esmé sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Esmé beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Esmé — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Variants across cultures
Esmé appears in different forms across languages and traditions. Each variant carries the same root meaning with a distinct sound and spelling shaped by local phonology.
Names similar to Esmé
If Esmé resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian girl names, common in American families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian girl names from the Love cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian girl names that open with the same syllables as Esmé
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Esmé — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Esmé
What does the name Esmé mean?
Esmé means "Beloved, esteemed — Esmé comes from the Old French esmé, past participle of esmer (to esteem, to love). Originally a masculine name carried into Scotland by French courtiers, it has become predominantly feminine in modern English-speaking use, prized for its soft sound and the tender sense of being held in high regard.." It is a girl name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Esmé a boy or girl name?
Esmé is most commonly used as a girl name.
What is the origin of the name Esmé?
Esmé is of French origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among American, British, European families.
Is Esmé a Christian name?
Yes. Esmé is a girl name traditionally used in Christian families, of French origin.
What does Esmé mean in French?
Esmé originates from French, where it means "Beloved, esteemed — Esmé comes from the Old French esmé, past participle of esmer (to esteem, to love). Originally a masculine name carried into Scotland by French courtiers, it has become predominantly feminine in modern English-speaking use, prized for its soft sound and the tender sense of being held in high regard.."
What are common nicknames for Esmé?
Common short forms of Esmé include Es, Esmie.
What is the numerology of Esmé?
Esmé has a Pythagorean destiny number of 6 — nurturing and family devotion.
See how Esmé scores for your family
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