Are there loads of Elizabeths and Esmes out there?

Here are my similar names:

Sylvie, Jeannie, Ana, Patricia, June, Cynthia, Florence, Rosemary, Rita, Lillian, Wendy, Penelope, Tulip, Gillian, Daphne, Darrell, Sally, Gwendoline, Alicia, Mavis, Mabel, Minnie, Maggie, Judith/Jude, Janey, Clara, Anastasia, Rosa, Audrey, Miriam (Mimi), Hazel, Dorothy, Jenna, Stefya, Peggy, Alison (Ally), Margot, Frances, Betty, Diana, Angelina, Angelica, Maree, Teresa (Tessa/Tessie), Natalia, Belinda, Millicent, Tatiana, Loretta, Enid, Bessie, Bethan, Lispeth, Esther, Elsa, Elise, Elodie, Louisa, Luisa, Annabella, Cora, Tulip, Pansy, Flora, Rowan, Delilah, Deliah, Carlotta, Nancy, Claudia, Henrietta, Harrietta, Etta, Penelope, Nell, Beatrice, Beatrix, Vera, Susannah, Edith, Olive, Seraphina, Sefarina, Julietta, Josephina, Ethel, Petula, Dixie, Phoenix, Elvira, Miranda, Hilda, Barbara, Pearl, Hillary, Tabitha, Opal, Emmelina, Isadora, Theadora, Kitty, Genevieve, Helena, Lillith, Rosalind, Cordelia, Lisbet, Arabella, Claribel.

I have a 2yo called Elizabeth (nn Lizzie) and know of a one yo called Elizabeth but nn. Libby. The only others I know are 30 plus! Dd is named after her great-grandmother but it definitely suits her.

love your nickname - brilliant!

I have an Esme (pronounced Es-mee) who is 8. There is one other in her school and don't know any others of her age. I've taught a couple over the last 19 years and love her name. Hoping it doesn't get too popular ...

I have a teenage Esme (also pronounced the correct way which is Es-mee )
Not another one in her whole secondary school and she has always been complimented on what a lovely name it is.
I have come across some others in passing, ie I don't know them directly but they are a friend of a friend's sort of thing.
I love it

I have an Elizabeth aged 2, don't know any others (yet). There is one Esme and one Esmae in DD's nursery (the whole nursery of 100 odd kids, not just her clas). Elizabeth is higher up the charts but many, like DD who is Bess, are better known by one of the many possible nns. Esme has shot up the popularity charts lately (whereas Elizabeth has always been up there) but is still less common. Both fab names IMHO.

I know 4 little girls called Esme but only 1 Elizabeth who is much older. I love the name Elizabeth and so many nice nn options too!

There are 3 (variations of) Elizabeth in Y3 at DD1's school. Not sure about other years.

Esme has become popular because of the Twilight books and films.

We've considered Elizabeth for our daughter due in March but neither of us like the nn Liz which is probably what she'd eventually end up as.

Come across lots of Esmes but no Elizabeth's.

Hope that continues. Elizabeth is on our short list.

Don't get me started on how to pronounce Esme...

We're thinking of Esme for DC3 - if a girl - due in a couple of weeks.

In 2010 there were 823 girls born named Esme it was 74th most popular name.

In 2010 there were 1356 girls named Elizabeth and it was 49th most popular name. However it was going down in popularity whereas Esme has risen considerably in the last 10 years. Though the jubilee effect may mean Elizabeth beomes more popular again.

I think that the ONS stats on names (for which 2011 figures are available) can be broken down by region, then you'd have a better idea of which is most common where you live.

Obv. my personal preference is for Esme (pronounced the correct way i.e. Ez-may).

Whoops meant to add some other suggestions of names we/I liked. Although both your names are lovely.

Anna
Annie
Helen
Helena
Thea
Althea
Alethea
Verity
Eve
Ellen
Sarah
Sara

I have an Esme.

She is in secondary school. In her Junior school there were two and I also have a friend with one. We occasionally come across Esmes at the swimming pool, beach, supermarket etc. So I think there are a few about but not loads iyswim. They do all seem to be quite a bit younger than mine.

I don't know any children called Elizabeth socially but have taught a couple. I like the Elisabeth spelling. I think it is a lovely name with lots of nn potential should you want it.

I know two Esmes but no baby Elizabeths. I do know a Betsy but I think she is just a Betsy.

Sorry i meant I know of one Esme and one Elizabeth

I called my three week old Elizabeth and have had lots of compliments on her name. I do not know any other Elizabeth's :)

No I don't think she would be one of several in a class. I know of two at our school, although there may well be more I don't know about. In my dds' years (primary school) there are lots of Lucys, (three in one class) Maddies, Matthews.

I dont know any Esmes. I think its v. pretty. I know an Elspeth which I believe is the scottish version of Elizabeth. I know a few Elizabeths, and yes, most are known as Lizzie.

I do love Elizabeth.

i have an Elizabeth she is the only one in our small 200 children village school.

Around here there's quite a bit of Elsie and Esme -- no actual first-name Elizabeths.

I know of one Esme, one Elizabeth and two Betsy's. I wouldn't say either of your choices are particularly popular but the various shortenings of Elizabeth seem to be being used more and more as a stand alone name.