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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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Ninkanink · 11/02/2021 22:01

@SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch it isn’t different, just a lot of people mispronounce it...

PatchworkElmer · 11/02/2021 22:01

My friend has an Esme (with accent!) Never had any issue with it as far as I’m aware. It’s a lovely name.

SionnachRua · 11/02/2021 21:57

Keep the accent imo, Esmé is much more visually pleasing.

Can't abide the Esmee pronunciation myself Envy

beccahamlet · 11/02/2021 21:57

For me Esme is Es me
With an accent it s Es may.

Original poster
Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 21:54

@Ninkanink I prefer it as well, a lot, but is it worth it if it’s left off lots of official documents and all Confused I wish the UK used our French accents, selfishly!

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Original poster
Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 21:47

Oh you got me curious what is it @musicinspring1? Yeah the Twilight association is annoying but I decided I liked the name too much to let it put me off! I think the name is popular enough, no one thinks people named their daughter Isabella after Twilight for instance!

OP posts:
SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch · 11/02/2021 21:47

I genuinely didn't know the pronunciation was different. I have a Esme and shes always been referred to as Es-may

Ninkanink · 11/02/2021 21:44

Oh no don’t ditch the accent! It’s so much more elegant with it...

CoffeeRunner · 11/02/2021 21:44

I would pronounce the name Es-may whether there was an accent or not. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Es-mee pronunciation 🤷🏻‍♀️.

musicinspring1 · 11/02/2021 21:42

My other DD has a French name that was very unusual when we named her but has since exploded in popularity and they are everywhere now Grin

musicinspring1 · 11/02/2021 21:41

Oh and it always gets a positive reaction Smile

musicinspring1 · 11/02/2021 21:40

I’ve never met another Esme in real life yet. Some people thought I’d named her after Esme in Twilight but although I was aware of Twilght that wasn’t a conscious decision! I don’t think the films are as popular now so I’d doubt you would get that connection!

Historydweeb · 11/02/2021 21:38

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

LolaSmiles · 11/02/2021 21:34

I've always pronounced it Es-may, and haven't come across es-mi.

MechantGourmet · 11/02/2021 21:32

Ez-mi is the English pronunciation, Ez-may the French. I'd only say the latter with the accent. I have a child with a French middle name, and yes, the accent is almost universally left off in the UK.

Original poster
Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 21:31

@musicinspring1 I agree, both sound nice! Not bothered about either pronunciation. Does your DD like her name/did you have positive reactions to it and do you find it popular (as in several in her classroom?) sorry so many questions :D

OP posts:
musicinspring1 · 11/02/2021 21:26

We pronounce my DD as Es - me - I just prefer how it sounds 🤷‍♀️ both are pretty though and I’m never fussed if people pronounce it differently that don’t know her. When DD was old enough she corrected it herself if she was bothered.
I wouldn’t use the accent only because it would bother me that documents didn’t match

Original poster
Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 21:22

@JemimaTiggywinkle it helps thanks!
By the way Jemima was on our shortlist as well :)

OP posts:
Chilldonaldchill · 11/02/2021 21:22

I would use the accent.

Original poster
Namingtrends · 11/02/2021 21:20

@rainbowdaz apparently lots of people do! I would always pronounce it Esmay and DH too but it seems to be quite the debate in the UK!

OP posts:
rainbowdaz · 11/02/2021 21:16

Who on Earth pronounces Esme as esmee? Whattt

2pinkginsplease · 11/02/2021 21:15

I would pronounce it Es-may whether it had an accent or not.

My dd has a name that in french has an accent. We never used the accent and it's still pronounced correctly. I just thought it would be a hassle .

Tibtab · 11/02/2021 21:10

My daughter has a French middle name with an accent, it’s on the birth certificate but I know it will be missed off everything else 😂

midnightstar66 · 11/02/2021 21:07

I'd probably ditch the accent. It's not needed for the name here and as you say will save potential confusion/document issues

JemimaTiggywinkle · 11/02/2021 21:06

I think it’s fine to include the accent, as long as you’re prepared that it will be frequently missed off.

It will either be missed off by accident, or because electronic forms, email addresses etc might not have the option to include it.

I might be in the minority, but I think most English people wouldn’t see the accent as a different spelling, it’s just like an optional extra.

For example, I know cafe should have an accent, but I would never spell it with an accent, because to me it’s the same word either way... I don’t know if that helps answer your question.

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