Declining since 2001, #1,207 for girls today.
Popularity of Esperanza since 1903
Babies named Esperanza per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 45 |
| 1910s | 454 |
| 1920s | 1,695 |
| 1930s | 1,385 |
| 1940s | 1,602 |
| 1950s | 1,500 |
| 1960s | 1,232 |
| 1970s | 1,317 |
| 1980s | 1,302 |
| 1990s | 2,359 |
| 2000s | 3,814 |
| 2010s | 2,690 |
| 2020s | 1,454 |
Meaning & origin
Esperanza directly borrows the Spanish word for 'hope,' giving it an uplifting and aspirational quality. First recorded in the United States in 1903, the name reached its peak popularity in 2000, when it was at rank 1207. Since 2001, its usage has been declining, though it remains moderately familiar. In 2025, approximately 1 in 8,549 newborn girls were named Esperanza, a ratio that reflects its steady but diminished presence. The name is most common in states with large Hispanic populations, such as New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.
Esperanza is taken directly from the Spanish word for 'hope,' derived from Latin sperare, 'to hope.' It has been used as a given name in Spanish-speaking countries since at least the 19th century, and gained recognition in the English-speaking world through cultural exchange and religious devotion, particularly the Virgin of Hope (Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza).
Where Esperanza is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Esperanza” around the world
Where Esperanza lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Espe, Peri, Anza
Sibling names for Esperanza
Names that share Esperanza's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Sofia, Valentina, Isabella, Camila, Luna, Adelita, Agapita, Alegria, Altagracia, Amparo, Angelita, Aracelia, Aracely, Araseli, Argelia, Armenta, Asusena, Belita, Bonita, Buena, Caridad, Carmelita, Carmencita, Carmita, Clarita, Claritza, Clemencia, Conchetta, Conchita, Consuela, Consuelo, Corazon, Criselda, Damita, Deloras, Delores, Deyanira, Dolores, Doloris, Dorita, Dulce, Dulcinea, Edelmira, Elidia, Enedelia, Eneida, Erendira, Estefana, Fidela, Genoveva, Getsemani, Grasiela, Gricelda, Hermelinda, Hortencia, Irasema, Irlanda, Isela, Jaunita, Jovita, Juanetta, Magaly, Mercedez, Mersades, Milagro, Milagros, Narcisa, Natividad, Nohemi, Odalys, Ofilia, Oralia, Ortencia, Palmira, Perla, Piedad, Pilar, Ramonita, Refugia, Reynalda, Rocio, Romona, Rosalita, Rosenda, Socorro, Soledad, Sulma, Tomasita, Verenice, Virgen, Yuritza, Zoila, Zuleyma, Lazara, Anabelen, Aracelly, Constancia, Delorese, Doloras, Ercilia, Fe, Felicidad, Fermina, Inocencia, Mariadelaluz, Mercedies, Preciosa, Providencia, Querida, Remedios, Soyla
Brothers: Mateo, Santiago, Alejandro, Sebastian, Diego, Abelardo, Abundio, Adelaido, Agapito, Amador, Anastacio, Angelito, Aniceto, Arnulfo, Avelino, Benedicto, Bienvenido, Braulio, Bulmaro, Candelario, Che, Cleofas, Cordero, Cresencio, Donaciano, Doroteo, Edelmiro, Edgardo, Ediberto, Eladio, Eleuterio, Emigdio, Epifanio, Eulogio, Eustacio, Everardo, Fidel, Florencio, Gildardo, Hermilo, Higinio, Honorio, Jerardo, Juvencio, Leobardo, Librado, Margarito, Melchor, Nasario, Nolberto, Onofre, Oswaldo, Pascual, Perfecto, Ponciano, Porfirio, Prudencio, Raymundo, Refugio, Refujio, Rigoberto, Rogelio, Rosalio, Santana, Seferino, Servando, Sixto, Sotero, Trinidad, Ulices, Venancio, Ventura, Yobany, Ysidro, Melquiades, Alcario, Avelardo, Baudelio, Ceferino, Celedonio, Cervando, Cordera, Crecencio, Emeterio, Espiridion, Everado, Feliberto, Frutoso, Isauro, Ponce, Tereso, Uvaldo, Valdez
Names like Esperanza
Names whose popularity has moved with Esperanza's over the last 50 years.
