Esther is a female given name of Persian origin. It is derived from the Persian word "setareh," which means "star." In the Bible, Esther is the heroine of the Book of Esther, which tells the story of how she saved the Jewish people from genocide at the hands of the Persian king. Esther has been a popular name among Jewish people for centuries and has spread to other cultures and religions over time. It has variations in different languages, such as Ester in Spanish and Portuguese, and Estera in Polish.
Esther rank report (US ranking for newborns 2021)
Nicknames for Esther
| Essie | EH-see | A commonly used diminutive of Esther. |
| Ettie | EH-tee | A diminutive of Esther that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Etta | EH-tuh | A diminutive of Esther that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Hester | HESS-tur | An old-fashioned nickname for Esther that is rarely used today. |
Famous people named Esther
| Esther Williams | Swimming Champion and Actress | She was an American competitive swimmer and actress known for her roles in MGM musicals. |
| Esther Hicks | Author and Speaker | She is an American inspirational speaker and author who has co-authored several books with her late husband Jerry Hicks. |
| Esther Perel | Psychotherapist and Author | She is a Belgian psychotherapist and author known for her work on relationships, sexuality, and infidelity. |
| Esther Rolle | Actress | She was an American actress known for her roles in the television series Maude and Good Times. |
| Esther McVey | Politician | She is a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for Tatton. |
| Esther Afua Ocloo | Entrepreneur and Activist | She was a Ghanaian entrepreneur and pioneer of micro-lending in Africa. |
| Esther Forbes | Author | She was an American novelist and children's writer known for her historical fiction, including the novel Johnny Tremain. |
| Esther Lederberg | Microbiologist | She was an American microbiologist known for her work in bacterial genetics and the discovery of the lambda phage. |
| Esther Earl | Writer and Activist | She was an American writer and activist known for her online presence and her friendship with author John Green. |
| Esther Baxter | Model and Actress | She is an American model and actress known for her appearances in music videos and magazines. |
Fictional character called Esther from pop culture
| Esther Greenwood | known for | main character in the novel "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath |
| Esther Summerson | known for | main character in the novel "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens |
| Esther | known for | character in the movie "Orphan" (2009) |
| Esther Drummond | known for | character in the TV series "The Crown |
| Esther Coleman | known for | character in the movie "Orphan" (2009) |
| Esther Randolph | known for | character in the TV series "Boardwalk Empire |
| Esther Smith | known for | character in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944) |
| Esther Shapiro | known for | character in the TV series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt |
| Esther Quek | known for | fashion journalist and editor |
| Esther Greenwood | known for | character in the movie "The Bell Jar" (1979) |
Frequently Asked Questions about Esther
| What is the origin of the name Esther? | The name Esther is of Persian origin. |
| What is the meaning of the name Esther? | The name Esther means 'star' or 'myrtle leaf'. |
| Is Esther a popular name? | Esther is not as popular as it once was, but it still ranks in the top 500 names for girls in the United States. |
| What famous people have the name Esther? | Famous people with the name Esther include actress Esther Williams and author Esther Hicks. |
| What are some variations of the name Esther? | Variations of the name Esther include Hester, Ester, and Estelle. |
| Is there a famous character with the name Esther? | Esther is the name of the main character in the biblical Book of Esther. |