Esther
/ˈɛs.təɹ/
The name Esther is most often connected to the Persian setareh meaning “star,” derived ultimately from the Avestan word for celestial light and cognate with the Greek aster.
A second tradition links it to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, deity of love and war, whose name shares the same astral root through Proto-Semitic ʾAṭtar.
The Hebrew Bible itself notes that Esther’s original name was Hadassah, meaning “myrtle,” suggesting Esther was her court name in the Persian royal household.
What the name Esther means
The biblical Book of Esther, set during the reign of Ahasuerus (commonly identified with Xerxes I, ruled 486-465 BCE), tells how Esther became queen of Persia and prevented the genocide of the Jewish people through the intervention of her uncle
Mordecai.
The story is commemorated annually in the festival of Purim, one of the most joyful holidays of the Jewish calendar.
Esther has inspired vast artistic output. George Frideric Handel composed his oratorio Esther in 1718, considered the first English oratorio. Jean Racine’s tragedy Esther premiered in 1689 at Saint-Cyr.
Rembrandt, Botticelli, and Artemisia Gentileschi all painted scenes from her story. Charles Dickens made Esther Summerson the narrator of Bleak House (1853).
In the United States, Esther ranked within the SSA top 50 from the 1880s through the 1920s, peaking at rank 26 in 1896. After a long mid-century retreat, it returned to the top 200 in the 2010s, propelled by a broader revival of Hebrew biblical names.
Notable bearers include actress Esther Williams, singer Esther Phillips, and Chilean novelist Esther Vilar. The name appears across virtually every Christian and Jewish naming tradition worldwide.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Esther
Esther - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity