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Original poster

How would you pronounce Esme?

165 replies

copynpaste · 28/01/2025 19:55

Would you pronounce it Ez-me

Or would you pronounce it Ez-may

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SueBranchers · 08/02/2025 21:37

My niece is called Esme and we pronounce it Eyes - my 🙂

bluebunnys · 04/02/2025 14:55

I used to know someone who spelt her child's name Esmee (two Es, no accent) - I would have thought that was a very clear sign that they wanted the Ezmee pronunciation, but no, she was Ezmay and got quite disgruntled if someone got it wrong.

Esmé is the masculine spelling

Esmée is feminine spelling

Both pronounced Esmé (meh/may)

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 04/02/2025 10:04

Ezmee if there's no accent over the E, Ezmay if there is.

Having said that I used to know someone who spelt her child's name Esmee (two Es, no accent) - I would have thought that was a very clear sign that they wanted the Ezmee pronunciation, but no, she was Ezmay and got quite disgruntled if someone got it wrong. So I guess the true answer is to always ask - and then go with what the person wants whether it sounds "right" or not.

It's not one of my top favourite names anyway, but if it was, I probably wouldn't consider using it for a child because of all the different spellings and pronunciations.

channelislander · 03/02/2025 03:20

I think I'd default to Ezmee, if I heard of a mainlander with the name.

If I meet someone back home in Guernsey/Jersey, then I'd assume Ezmay. We don't use French names quite as much anymore, but the pronunciations still lean that way.

CornishTeaTime · 03/02/2025 03:04

Ez-may

urbanbuddha · 03/02/2025 02:50

Ez-may, but I’d spell it Esmé.

How to pronounce Esmé

EzWin2 · 30/01/2025 10:30

Ez-May

Firebird83 · 29/01/2025 20:50

I read somewhere (a while ago!) that Es-me was the usual pronunciation in the UK, particularly in Scotland, and it’s only recently that the Es-may pronunciation has been used. People think it’s the other way around though!

PurpleFlower1983 · 29/01/2025 20:40

Ez-may

MidnightMusing5 · 29/01/2025 19:19

Ez may

Babadookinthewardrobe · 29/01/2025 18:53

Cor blimey, who’d have thought such controversy would be stirred! I love the passionate debate.

It’s definitely Ez-ME by the way. I have it on official authority (that I just made up).

Firsttimebabymummy · 29/01/2025 18:45

Ez-May

PrincessHoneysuckle · 29/01/2025 18:03

Ez-mi

poppymango · 29/01/2025 17:47

I know an Esme, and she hates it when people pronounce it ez-may - she reckons it would only be pronounced that way if there was an accent over the E.

Both ways sound lovely to me, but I'd probably choose the accented version given the choice.

saraclara · 29/01/2025 12:40

RuthW · 29/01/2025 12:23

And Ez-May is the new fangled way of saying it

Ez-May is far from new-fangled! It's the original pronunciation!

Completelyjo · 29/01/2025 12:36

RuthW · 29/01/2025 12:23

And Ez-May is the new fangled way of saying it

It’s really not.

RuthW · 29/01/2025 12:23

And Ez-May is the new fangled way of saying it

RuthW · 29/01/2025 12:22

Ez-mee.

I really dislike it Ez-may

Sandyview · 29/01/2025 11:50

Ez may

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 29/01/2025 11:38

Ez-May

JC03745 · 29/01/2025 09:51

NattyTurtle59 · 29/01/2025 01:06

I don't live in the UK and it's always pronounced as Ez-may here. However I work with someone who moved here from the UK and she pronounces it Ez-me - and as far as I know she isn't a MNer. I think it's a UK thing (but obviously not everyone there).

Show quote history

I too was born abroad and moved to the UK 20yrs ago. Growing up, I knew of many elderly ladies who all pronounced it Ez-may. Its only recently, on MN, I've ever heard of the Ez-Mee pronunciation, but maybe it is more common in the UK than I knew?

bluebunnys · 29/01/2025 08:57

The french pronunciation of Esmé is more Esmeh than Esmay. Hard to describe in words, but try googling a native french pronunciation.

thinktwice36 · 29/01/2025 08:54

bluebunnys · 29/01/2025 08:53

For those that want the Esmay pronunciation, why not spell it that way?

Why should Esme be pronounced like that? Even the French pronunciation of Esmé is not Esmay!

What is the actual (ie correct) French pronunciation?

thinktwice36 · 29/01/2025 08:53

PuppyMonkey · 29/01/2025 08:42

Maybe you just need to get out more? Grin

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very much depends where..

bluebunnys · 29/01/2025 08:53

For those that want the Esmay pronunciation, why not spell it that way?

Why should Esme be pronounced like that? Even the French pronunciation of Esmé is not Esmay!