Rising since 1993, #2,539 for boys today.
Popularity of Esa since 1967
Babies named Esa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11 | 0 |
| 1970s | 7 | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 | 7 |
| 1990s | 0 | 20 |
| 2000s | 10 | 87 |
| 2010s | 32 | 272 |
| 2020s | 44 | 273 |
Meaning & origin
Esa is a Finnish short form of Esaias, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yeshayahu, meaning 'Yahweh is salvation.' Though rooted in biblical tradition, Esa has developed its own identity in Finland and among Finnish communities worldwide. In the United States, the name first appeared on the Social Security list in 1989 and has been steadily climbing, reaching its peak rank of 2,539 in 2025. With a 1-in-32,848 occurrence rate, Esa is rare but increasingly noticed, especially in states like New York and Texas where Finnish heritage is more concentrated. Its trajectory has been consistently rising since 1993, suggesting a growing interest in this concise, distinctive name.
Esa is a Finnish short form of Esaias, the Finnish form of Isaiah. The name Isaiah comes from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, meaning 'Yahweh is salvation.' Esa has been used independently in Finland since the early 20th century.
Where Esa is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Esa” around the world
Where Esa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Sibling names for Esa
Names that share Esa's style, for a brother or sister.
