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Original poster

Esme - spelling and pronunciation

40 replies

BatKat · 14/11/2020 13:41

How would say pronounce Esme? Es-mee, Es-may or something else?

We are considering the name for our next baby but want to make sure we have the best spelling for how we would say it.

Thanks 😊

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partyatthepalace · 21/01/2021 20:22

It’s usually pronounced Ez-me in the uk, which is a shame as Ez-may is much nicer IMO.

MumofSpud · 21/01/2021 18:40

I have an Esme - pronounced Esmay. I believe the Scottish pronunciation is
Es-mee.

CharitySchmarity · 15/11/2020 22:47

I would pronounce it Ezmee if spelt without the accent, Ezmay if with it... unless the person in question, or her parents, said they wanted it another way.

Scarby9 · 15/11/2020 17:56

Ezmay or Esmee.

InFiveMins · 15/11/2020 17:54

Another vote for Ezmay

Firebird83 · 14/11/2020 22:11

All the ones I know are EZ-mee

DramaAlpaca · 14/11/2020 19:10

I'd pronounce it EZ-mee unless told otherwise.

I much prefer it to EZ-may.

GaryTheDemon · 14/11/2020 17:43

Ez-me (and I don’t like ez-may so this is why it went off my list)

DepuisToujours · 14/11/2020 17:41

Yes, I would put the emphasis on the Ez rather than the me.

So it's EZ-mee. I know two, who are both EZ-mee. One is in her late seventies and the other is 6. I also once met an Esmae-Rose, pronounced Ez-may Rose.

PuppyMonkey · 14/11/2020 17:39

@AliciaMayEmory - yes my Esme is more of a quick mi sound than a big hard meeeeee.

ProfessorPlumInTheLibrary · 14/11/2020 17:28

Ez-may

AliciaMayEmory · 14/11/2020 16:49

I would pronounce it as Es-mee, but quite soft ‘ee’ sound at the end. So not as hard as Es-MEEEE! I have heard the Es-May pronunciation, too. Whichever you choose people will used and get used to. It’s a lovely name whichever way you pronounce it.

user1493494961 · 14/11/2020 16:43

I know an Esme, pronounced Esmee.

Sootyboysmum · 14/11/2020 16:43

My granddaughter's name is spelt Esmée

florascotia2 · 14/11/2020 16:42

OP please forgive me if you know all this already, but:

Esme is a past participle/also used as an adjective in French.

It means 'esteemed'. In the past, it has been used as a synonym for Amy (= beloved).

In French, it would be pronouced Es-meh. As a previous poster has said, the sound is rather softer than the English 'may'.

It was originally a male name. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esm%C3%A9_Stewart,_1st_Duke_of_Lennox Technically, in French, the spelling Esme (with an acute acent on the final e) is male.

In French, for a girl, to be accurate, there would be another e added at the end. Pronunciation still Es-meh.

Original poster
BatKat · 14/11/2020 16:35

Thanks all this is very helpful. We prefer Ez-mee (although do also like Ez-may) and just wanted to check that I wouldn’t be spelling it wrong using Esme. I have also seen it spelt Esmae which added to my confusion!!! Thanks again

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 14/11/2020 16:11

I like Esme a lot (spelt the most common, traditional way - preferably with the accent when written by hand, although it is difficult to do on typical keyboards).

I would pronounce it Ez - may, which has a softer sound to me - however many do pronounce it Ez - mee and I think if you use the name you will have to be prepared to hear either and to possibly have it misspelt too.

SpacePug · 14/11/2020 14:38

Ezmay

Oneandabean · 14/11/2020 14:35

Ez-may, I didn’t realise there was a different way of saying it until I came on here. There’s a lot in my daughters school all Ez-may. Spellings differ a bit though

june2007 · 14/11/2020 14:19

Ez-may is how I would say it. Think I prefer the name it comes from Esmerelda.

Sara2000 · 14/11/2020 14:14

Ez may.

It's nice name.

1940s · 14/11/2020 14:13

@HoppingPavlova

Would pronounce it Ezmay
Same here
DepuisToujours · 14/11/2020 14:11

Ez-mee

Vacummingagain · 14/11/2020 14:09

*so the accent here

Vacummingagain · 14/11/2020 14:09

I have one! We love her name and it really suits her. It’s spelled Esme - it’s generally pronounced Ez-may. We’re in the north east to the accent here leans to that pronunciation anyway, but family members in other parts of the country lean more towards Ez-me (like the end of Amy).

She’ll answer to any of it Grin

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