Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Esmé

59 replies

stircrazyabc · 20/03/2022 15:09

Do tug like the name Esmé?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
scottishnames · 20/03/2022 19:53

The problem here is that it's a French name which most people in the UK don't pronounce properly. However, the 'e acute = eh' sound is alive and well in east coast/central Scotland, which is where the name first became adopted in the UK. For a MAN. Grammatically, Esme is masculine. The feminine would be Esmee. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esm%C3%A9_Stewart,_1st_Duke_of_Lennox

Esmeh is most accurate. But only French/east-coast Scotland speakers seem to be able to manage to say it
Esmay is a sort of an approximation
Esmee No. Please not.

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/03/2022 20:00

It’s ok.

There are a zillion of them though and the 2 pronunciations might get annoying.

LottieDot · 20/03/2022 20:43

Sorry but its my least favourite girls name. I think because it reminds me of twilight and 'Renesmee' shudders

WeasilyPleased · 20/03/2022 22:40

Not really. It reminds me of almonds.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 20/03/2022 23:02

I like it, my granddaughters called Esme, well she has a longer name but everyone calls her esme

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/03/2022 23:03

Yes, very much.

Smallkeys · 20/03/2022 23:05

My favourite name ! I also know if an April very recently and I rather like that too

Yellowbeeblueflower · 20/03/2022 23:17

I like it and it sounds Turkish to my ears.

To me it should be pronounced as Es-meh.

Es-may sound wrong as there is no “ay” .

Es-mee again wrong as there is no “ee”.

mariepopp · 20/03/2022 23:39

I know an Esmeralda shortened to Esme, lovely name.

idiotmagnet · 20/03/2022 23:47

Lovely

Calandor · 21/03/2022 00:04

Yes i like it. It's elegant.

It's growing in popularity though.

Elspethelf · 21/03/2022 02:11

I love it but only pronounced one way. Esma is on my short list, similar vibe but hopefully less pronunciation issues

organicoatmilk · 21/03/2022 07:16

Yes! Lovely name.

Lilaclavenders · 21/03/2022 14:33

*Es-may sound wrong as there is no “ay” .

Es-mee again wrong as there is no “ee”.*

Exactly!

Esmé is pronounced Es-mé or Es-meh

TrooBloo · 21/03/2022 20:07

The é makes an a sound. That’s what the accent is for.

momtoboys · 21/03/2022 20:19

Love it.

Lilaclavenders · 21/03/2022 21:34

The é makes an a sound

No it doesn't make an a or ay sound!

It makes an é sound. It seems to be impossible for English speakers to say correctly.

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2022 11:31

Esmé is a boy's name. If you want to use an accent call her Esmée

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 22/03/2022 11:56

I never understand why some people protest so much on Esmé threads that é isn't an ay sound. In the UK it is. All the exasperated posts won't change that.

Marcipex · 22/03/2022 12:10

I think it’s dismal, sorry. It’s on a par with Ethel.

Lilaclavenders · 22/03/2022 12:37

I never understand why some people protest so much on Esmé threads that é isn't an ay sound.

Because we want new parents to avoid mispronouncing their child's name.

Esmé (and the feminine form Esmée) is a French name, pronounced Es-mé (meh).

Just like Louis is a French name, pronounced Lou-ee.

Sure you can mispronounce them as Esmay and Lou-iss....

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 22/03/2022 12:42

I look forward to your tour of the UK where you teach everyone to pronounce 'café' correctly.

You are the saviour we need.

Yellowbeeblueflower · 22/03/2022 12:43

I completely agree with @Lilaclavenders !

Esme is even worse than Louis though, because at Louis you see the s written, which may be confusing for British.

But Esme? Why would that be Es-May when it doesn’t end with an ay?

Sorry but for me it’s impossible to get it…

TrooBloo · 22/03/2022 12:57

@MurderAtTheBeautyPageant Grin yes!

scottishnames · 23/03/2022 18:34

Actually, Murder I and probably millions of others in Scotland do say 'Caf-eh'. Not 'Caf-aaay'.

Each to their own, of course...