Esther

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Esther

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Esther could be:
1. The Persian form of a Hebrew name, Hadassah, which meant “Myrtle.”
-or-
2. An alternate form of Ishtar, a Persian god.
-or-
3. A Persian name, possibly related to Estella, which means “Star,” from “stara.”

History:
Esther was not used in England before the Reformation, and even afterwards, was relatively rare until the late 19th century.

Pronunciation: ESS-terr.

Diminutives: Esta, Hettie, Hetty.

Alternates: Hester, Hesther.
Hawaiian: Ekekela.
Hungarian: Eszter.
Irish Gaelic: Eister.
Latin: Esthera, Hestera.
Scandinavian: Ester.
Spanish: Ester.
Swedish: Ester.

See also: Hester.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Mother Joseph (Esther William ) (1823-1902)
American architect and nun.
Esther Singer (1892-)
Yiddish novelist.
Esther McCracken (1902-1971)
British playwright.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Esther Hobart McQuigg Slack Morris (1814-1902)
American suffragette.
Esther Boise Van Deman (1862-1937)
American archaeologist.
Esther Forbes (1891-1967)
American historian.
Esther June Piercy (1905-1967)
American librarian.
Esther Peterson (1906-1997)
American consumer advocate.
Esther Rome (1945-1995)
American health advocate. Co-author of Our Bodies, Ourselves.

Miscellaneous:
Esther Pauline Friedman (1918-)
American advice giver.

Religious Figures:
Esther (Biblical)
The Jewish wife of the Persian king, Ahasuerus.

Scientists:
Esther Pohl Lovejoy (1869-1967)
American physician.

Singers and Entertainers:
Esther Rolle (1920-1998)
American actress.
Esther William (1922-)
American actress.
Esther Rantzen (1940-)
British television producer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.166 % named Esther
0.019 % named Ester
0.009 % named Hester
0.003 % named Hettie
0.002 % named Esta

Popularity of Esther:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 46th most popular.
1850: 97th most popular.
1875: 147th most popular.
1900-1910: 30th most popular.
1910-1920: 35th most popular.
1920-1930: 49th most popular.
1930-1940: 93rd most popular.
1940-1950: 137th most popular.
1950-1960: 190th most popular.
1960-1970: 270th most popular.
1970-1980: 322nd most popular.
1980-1990: 293rd most popular.
1990: 266th most popular.
1991: 274th most popular.
1992: 277th most popular.
1993: 284th most popular.
1994: 277th most popular.
1995: 290th most popular.
1996: 308th most popular.
1997: 305th most popular.
1998: 327th most popular.
1999: 323rd most popular.
2000: 334th most popular.
2001: 293rd most popular.
2002: 306th most popular.
2003: 297th most popular.

In France...
1900: 160th most popular.
1910: 156th most popular.
1920: 178th most popular.
1930: 195th most popular.
1931-1969: N/A
1970: 190th most popular.
1973: 177th most popular.
1980-1990: N/A
1998: 193rd most popular.
2000: 173rd most popular.

Popularity of Ester:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 465th most popular.
1910-1920: 426th most popular.
1920-1930: 453rd most popular.
1930-1940: 549th most popular.
1940-1950: 597th most popular.
1950-1960: 914th most popular.
1960-1970: 984th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A