Esther
Many evergreen classics for girls come from the age-old Bible. Think Mary, Elizabeth, and Sarah. However, even Biblical names don't have to always be popular to count as classics. One such name is Esther.
Esther is commonly thought to come from the Persian word for "star." However, her meaning is actually debatable. She also might come from the Hebrew words for "hidden" and "myrtle."
Either way, the name is rooted in the Bible. Originally named Hadassah, she changed her name to Esther to hide her Jewish identity upon marrying the King of Persia. However, Esther reveals her religion to the king after his advisor Haman announces his plan to kill all the Jews. Esther asked the king to execute Haman. Thus, Esther saved the Jews' lives, making her a positive role model for girls. Her victory also pointed to the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death through His death on the cross.
As with many Biblical names, Esther became common among English-speakers during the sixteenth century. She was popular in England through the 1910s and in the United States from the 1880s through the mid-1930s. The name's popularity could have been influenced by the daughter of Grover Cleveland, who served as president in the 1890s. During the same decade, Esther jumped from #67 to #39.
Esther may not be as popular as she once was, but she never left the top 400. That makes Esther a true classic. She currently ranks among the top 200 in both England and the United States. That could change within the next decade, though, if Esther completes her revival by returning to the top 100. Perhaps she is already a top 100 pick in New Zealand.
Esther has also seen recent usage in non-English countries such as France, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands. This makes Esther not only timeless and Biblical but also a name with international flair.
POPULARITY LEVEL: Top 200
NOTABLE BIBLICAL FIGURES:
- Queen Esther of Persia, who saved the Jews from annihilation
NOTABLE REAL-LIFE NAMESAKES:
- Scottish artisan Esther Inglis (1571-1624)
- First American female justice of the peace Esther Hobart Morris (1814-1902)
- Second child of former US President Grover Cleveland, Esther Cleveland (1893-1980)
- American swimmer and actor Esther Williams (1921-2013)
- Belgian-American psychotherapist Esther Perel (1958-)
- American actor and comedian Esther Povitsky (1988-)
- English actor Esther McGregor (2001-)
- Narrator Esther Summerson in Charles Dickens's Bleak House (1853)
- Second-eldest daughter Esther Smith in musical film Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
- Protagonist Esther Blodgett in musical film A Star is Born (1954)
- Grandmother Esther Walton in the television series The Waltons (1972-1981)
SISTERS: Alice, Charlotte, Eve, Helen, Judith, Lucy, Naomi, Rose, Sadie, Vivian
BROTHERS: Abel, Edwin, Henry, Julius, Levi, Micah, Otis, Reuben, Simon, Theodore
ALTERNATIVES: Astrid, Constance, Elise, Estelle, Frances, Honor, Ingrid, Martha, Rahab, Vesta
NAME LISTS: 50 Sibling Names for Alice, Biblical Girls' Names, Timeless Girls' Names
FURTHER RESOURCES:
"Esther." Names, Behind the Name, 1 Dec. 2024, https://www.behindthename.com/name/esther.
Nickerson, Eleanor. "Esther." Names of the Week, British Baby Names, 6 Feb. 2018, https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2018/06/name-of-the-week-esther.html.
What do you think of Esther? Do you agree that it's a timeless classic?
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