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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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HousedInMySoul · 29/01/2025 08:42

USaYwHatNow · 29/01/2025 02:40

Ez-mee because there's no accent above the last e. If spelt Esmé then that changes the pronunciation to Ez-may

Agree with this. If no accent, why would the 2nd E be pronounced with an ay sound? But then if the person whose name it was said 'actually it's esmay' I would then say it that way

PuppyMonkey · 29/01/2025 08:42

thinktwice36 · 29/01/2025 08:39

This Scot never heard of Es-Mee being acceptable 😂

Show quote history

Maybe you just need to get out more? Grin

thinktwice36 · 29/01/2025 08:39

PuppyMonkey · 29/01/2025 07:26

There’s also a strong Scottish tradition with the name Esme, pronounced me at the end. I’ve been having this argument since 2007 when I named my daughter Esme. Grin

We hate hate hate the May ending. Sounds like Dismay.

This Scot never heard of Es-Mee being acceptable 😂

thinktwice36 · 29/01/2025 08:38

Ez-May.

ezmee sounds a bit…..😳

Emanwenym · 29/01/2025 08:35

Esmy

bluebunnys · 29/01/2025 07:40

Esmé is actually the masculine spelling

Esmée is the feminine spelling.

PuppyMonkey · 29/01/2025 07:26

There’s also a strong Scottish tradition with the name Esme, pronounced me at the end. I’ve been having this argument since 2007 when I named my daughter Esme. Grin

We hate hate hate the May ending. Sounds like Dismay.

BeaAndBen · 29/01/2025 03:54

Esme is Es-mee or Ez-mee. It’s been used in the U.K. since the 1600s, so it’s a good old name with plenty of heritage.

Esmée is Ez-may (well, not quite ay, but you know what I mean. Like the e acute is café) - French spelling and pronunciation

DPotter · 29/01/2025 03:13

The only Esme I have known pronounced it Es-Me. She was from Yorkshire if that makes any difference

USaYwHatNow · 29/01/2025 02:40

Ez-mee because there's no accent above the last e. If spelt Esmé then that changes the pronunciation to Ez-may

MadisonAvenue · 29/01/2025 02:18

Ez-me.

I’ve only ever known one Esme, she’s in her 70s now, and that is how her name is pronounced.

MarkingBad · 29/01/2025 01:36

Ez

Eenameenadeeka · 29/01/2025 01:35

May

purpleme12 · 29/01/2025 01:08

I've only heard it pronounced Ezmay

NattyTurtle59 · 29/01/2025 01:06

JC03745 · 28/01/2025 19:58

Ez-May

Its only on MN that I've been aware that people say EZ-ME! 😕

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).

BBQPete · 28/01/2025 23:54

Ez - mee

but I've heard Ez - may too, and each time it is asked on here, it seems to be about 50:50, so, if it being pronounced differently from whichever way you prefer bothers you, then I'd choose a different name.

Babadookinthewardrobe · 28/01/2025 23:27

Nooo surely neither Ez-Me, Ez-May nor Ez-Meh could be inspired by the grim Renesmee - creepy by name and nature.

LuluBlakey1 · 28/01/2025 23:03

Ez-me- that's how my aunt pronounced her name.

Doitrightnow · 28/01/2025 23:02

Ez-mee assuming no accent. The two I knew twenty years ago were both Ez-mee.

If it's written with an accent I'd assume Ez-may. But I view Ez-may as a recent abomination spawned by Renesmee. It makes my teeth itch.

LoudSnoringDog · 28/01/2025 22:54

My Esme is Ez May. I wanted it to be Ex mee but no one pronounced it that way so I just gave up

FedupMumof10YearOld · 28/01/2025 22:53

Either. I've heard me and may.

I would say Ez-May

mathanxiety · 28/01/2025 22:46

HotCrossBunplease · 28/01/2025 20:30

It should be written with an acute accent and pronounced the same as the e in café.

Yes to this.

LSTMS30555 · 28/01/2025 22:45

Ess-mee I've only known a much older generation of Esmes and this new pronunciation Esmay not one of them pronounced it like that.

mathanxiety · 28/01/2025 22:44

Ez-may

bluebunnys · 28/01/2025 22:40

GlasgowGal82 · 28/01/2025 22:35

Definitely Es-May. It’s a French name and that’s how they pronounce it.

Have you actually listened to a French speaker pronounce Esmé?

There is no AY at all

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