Fun Facts About the Name Esmay
- 293 babies named Esmay: U.S. records list 293 babies given the name Esmay from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Esmay Mean?
Esmay is a spelling variant of Esmé (feminine Esmée), a name taken from the Old French word esmé, meaning "esteemed" or "beloved." That word is the past participle of the verb esmer, "to esteem, prize, or love," which comes from Latin aestimare, "to value or estimate" - the same root as the English word estimate. The literal sense is "esteemed" or "highly valued," while "beloved" is the customary emotional reading of that same word rather than a separate origin.
Esmay Name History & Origins
Esmé reached the English-speaking world through France and Scotland. In medieval French, esmé was used as a given name, with the feminine form esmée. Scottish noble families with close French ties carried it to Britain: Esmé Stewart (c. 1542 - 1583), raised in France, was made Duke of Lennox in 1581 and was a favorite of the young James VI. Through him and later Scottish families, Esmé became established in Scotland as a masculine name and stayed in use there for centuries, while the feminine Esmée remained the usual form in French and is also found in Dutch.
Esmay is an English respelling that follows pronunciation rather than the French accents and spelling. As the feminine Esmé and Esmée spread in English-speaking countries during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, phonetic spellings such as Esmay appeared alongside them. The name also appears in modern English writing, notably in J. D. Salinger's story "For Esmé - with Love and Squalor" (1950), which uses the accent-free spelling.
How Popular is the Name Esmay?
Esmay has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #4,036 in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,914 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2024 | #6,217 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2023 | #7,363 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #4,942 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2021 | #5,133 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2020 | #4,036 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 2019 | #5,854 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #5,851 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #7,980 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #6,247 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #6,816 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #7,421 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2013 | #7,882 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #12,590 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #13,807 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #18,182 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Esmay Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Esmay's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Esmay's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.