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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Esme or Esmé spelling?

58 replies

Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 20:39

Hi dear MN,

I think we are set on the name of our DD due in a month. It’s been a favourite of mine forever because of Salinger.

I know there is some pronunciation debate, and as a French national living in the UK, I would pronounce it Es-may (more meh even) and would prefer to spell it Esmé.

Does the spelling Esmé work well in the UK? I don’t want to set her up for a lifetime of administrative struggle because of the accent, but maybe I’m overthinking it and it’s completely fine?

Very keen to hear from you all :) I think you would know better than I do on the question. Thanks!

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Original poster
Namingtrends · 13/02/2021 17:10

:)

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Original poster
Namingtrends · 13/02/2021 17:10

Thanks @Sausagedog1 I will include the accent

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Sausagedog1 · 13/02/2021 08:45

I think I would include the accent. Esmé is beautiful OP one of my favourites.
I like Es-mee most but Es-may is also lovely. I think it's important you like both pronunciations which it sounds like you do Smile

ArosAdraDrosDolig · 13/02/2021 01:35

When you enter an é in an electronic form it doesn’t recognise the character and will produce Esm@ Esm& Esm£ etc.

Original poster
Namingtrends · 12/02/2021 15:25

Thanks a lot @Greenbook320, happy to have finally decided! Just took me three months 😅

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Greenbook320 · 12/02/2021 12:45

Beautiful name, very classy x

Original poster
Namingtrends · 12/02/2021 10:54

I'll try to convince DH on setting it with the accent @Ninkanink and @ILoveStickers. Thanks @OldEvilOwl! :)

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OldEvilOwl · 12/02/2021 10:51

Love the name

ILoveStickers · 12/02/2021 10:38

I'd default to Ez-may for whichever the spelling (wasn't aware of the Ez-mee version before Mumsnet). Like Renee or Renée - the same with or without the accent.

However, I'd use Esmé, particularly if you are French. It's nice, and possibly helps with pronunciation a bit too. If it gets left off sometimes, who cares really.

Original poster
Namingtrends · 12/02/2021 10:33

@Hammonds you got me curious! French name?
I think Esme is one of these names you can't get precious about; as in some people will say it one way and some another, and that's just the way it is. Many names have this small 'issue' though like Kayla, Layla, even Eva.
Once she says it the way we pronounce it at home, people just know and use the "correct" pronunciation.

OP posts:
Chilldonaldchill · 12/02/2021 09:26

My grandmother had two friends called Esme. Both pronounced it Ezmee (born in the 1920s and 30s) so I grew up saying it that way.
Nowadays I usually remember to say Ezmay but then some people say Ezmee themselves!
With the accent at least I know how I'm supposed to say it without even asking. And other names do have accents as well so I don't think it's particularly odd.

Hammonds · 12/02/2021 09:21

The accent will get dropped. People will say what they want to ...

My name is french. You should hear people say it in Manchester or Yorkshire accent Grin

Synchrony · 12/02/2021 09:16

I'd use the accent. I would pronounce it Es-me without and Es-may with, based on my GCSE French knowledge.

I know two Esmes, both now in their 40s, and both pronounced Es-me. Both obviously pre-Twilight, maybe it's a generational thing on how English people assume it's pronounced?!

I have a friend who has an accent on her name. I do use the accent if I'm handwriting but never bother if I'm texting or emailing.

BaggoMcoys · 12/02/2021 09:15

I read both names the same way - Es-May. I really like the name. I have never heard Es-Mee.

I think whichever way you spell it, you will end up with some people pronouncing it wrong. The accented é may get left off a lot by people though, as it's not always easy to find on a UK keyboard.

My dd's name can have two pronunciations, it hasn't been an issue for us. When telling people her name, if I do so via text I write out the pronunciation we use phonetically. My dd strongly identifies with her name so will always speak up if it's pronounced incorrectly!

Hilochickalo · 12/02/2021 09:02

Yes I'd definitely use the accented version! I would pronounce it as Es-may anyway but recently found out about the Es-mee pronunciation which I was surprised about, so I think the accent would help make it clearer for people.

SirSamuelVimes · 12/02/2021 08:27

@beccahamlet

For me Esme is Es me With an accent it s Es may.
I'm the same. If you want the Es-may pronunciation use the accent. It will help reduce the number of times you and she have to correct people!
NoGoodPunsLeft · 12/02/2021 08:08

[quote Namingtrends]@PracticingPerson apparently people pronounce it differently, accent or not, and I’m not bothered about either. Thanks![/quote]
Correct. I know one pronounced Es-may and one Es-mee, it's just preference/accent maybe, or regional.

They one pronounced Es-may isn't spelt with the accent either, and generally when you meet people you doing see their name written down so wouldn't influence pronunciation either way

ganivet · 12/02/2021 07:56

Esmé - she may well move to France or another accent-friendly country when she grows up!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/02/2021 22:37

I'd use Esme with the accent, to make sure you get the prettier Es -meh pronunciation. Yes, obviously be aware that lots of people (including me!) can't add the accent on their computers - but even written without the accent, I'd still guess it was pronounced Es- meh, (rather than Es- mee unless told otherwise).

jumpyturtles · 11/02/2021 22:16

I’ve never known anyone pronounce it es-mee

Original poster
Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 22:14

Thanks everyone for the answers :) @CabernetSoWhat love it!

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EskSmith · 11/02/2021 22:07

I have a 12 year old Esmé. As others said sometimes the accent gets missed off but she is fairly militant about it - I overheard her telling her English teacher the alt code for an é yesterday ;)

Original poster
Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 22:06

@PracticingPerson apparently people pronounce it differently, accent or not, and I’m not bothered about either. Thanks!

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PracticingPerson · 11/02/2021 22:02

@Historydweeb

Esme without the accent is Ez-mee Esmé is pronounced Ez-may
Correct!

But the accent will be left off all the time, sorry! and it will still be confused so decide early how angry you can be bothered to get about Ez-mee.

CabernetSoWhat · 11/02/2021 22:01

On behalf of the sizeable minority(?) Of Brits who took A Level French 15+ years ago, please use the accent. We know what to do with it. Conjugating verbs in the subjunctive is where we get lost.