A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Ester since 1881
Babies named Ester per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1925, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ester's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 115 | 5 |
| 1890s | 387 | 30 |
| 1900s | 622 | 28 |
| 1910s | 1,573 | 205 |
| 1920s | 2,373 | 222 |
| 1930s | 1,577 | 144 |
| 1940s | 1,582 | 122 |
| 1950s | 1,584 | 90 |
| 1960s | 1,184 | 22 |
| 1970s | 746 | 12 |
| 1980s | 727 | 11 |
| 1990s | 754 | 0 |
| 2000s | 1,009 | 0 |
| 2010s | 1,190 | 0 |
| 2020s | 842 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ester is a timeless name with deep biblical roots, known as a variant of Esther. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1881, and its highest popularity came in 1905, ranking 1570 in 2025 with 1 in 11995 newborns. After a decline, it has been rising again since 1991. The name is most common in Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
Ester is a variant of Esther, a name of disputed origin. It may derive from the Hebrew hadassah, meaning 'myrtle tree,' or from the Persian word for 'star.' The name is borne by the biblical Queen Esther, who saved the Jewish people from persecution. The spelling Ester is common in Scandinavian and Hebrew contexts.
Where Ester 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.
“Ester” around the world
Where Ester lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Essie, Esti
Sibling names for Ester
Names that share Ester's style, for a brother or sister.
