Fun Facts About the Name Esten
- 238 babies named Esten: U.S. records list 238 babies given the name Esten from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Esten Mean?
Esten is a Scandinavian masculine given name, used mainly in Norway, and it belongs to the family of names represented by Old Norse Eysteinn (modern Norwegian Eystein and Øystein). The name is a two-part compound. Its second element is Old Norse steinn, "stone," and that part of the meaning is secure. The first element, ey, is most often explained as "island," which gives the usual literal sense of "island stone." Some treatments instead connect this element with an Old Norse sense of "luck" or "good fortune," which would point toward something like "stone of fortune." Which sense the original name-givers intended is not settled, so the "island" reading should be treated as the customary explanation rather than a certainty.
Esten Name History & Origins
Eysteinn was a well-attested name in medieval Scandinavia. Several Norwegian kings bore it, among them Eystein Magnusson, who ruled jointly with his brothers in the early twelfth century, and Eystein II in the same century. The name also appears in Old Norse saga literature and in other medieval Scandinavian records. In Norway, Eysteinn developed into the forms Eystein and Øystein, as the initial ey sound shifted toward øy and then ø in many dialects.
Esten is a shorter Norwegian form recorded alongside those longer variants. It keeps the st and n of the second element but trims the opening of the name, the way many everyday Scandinavian name forms were shortened in speech. Unlike Øystein, which has remained in regular use in Norway, Esten has always been uncommon and is rare outside Scandinavia.
How Popular is the Name Esten?
Esten 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 2010. Its best rank was #3,479 in 1918.
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 | #12,600 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #11,302 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #7,412 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #6,826 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #11,023 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #9,135 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #9,996 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #11,182 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #7,283 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #11,103 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #9,033 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #8,999 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #4,895 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #13,061 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #6,879 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #9,156 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #8,966 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #10,503 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #7,726 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #8,077 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #8,738 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #7,371 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #6,550 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #6,679 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1929 | #4,158 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #4,394 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #3,586 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #4,553 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,373 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1918 | #3,479 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #3,542 | 6 | 0.0007% |
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 Esten 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.
✦ Esten's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Esten's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.