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Baby names

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

Original poster

I love the name everyone else hates..

157 replies

duffy7 · 03/02/2026 08:43

I love love the name Esther. But I’ve been told it’s a grandma name and it sounds horrible. I have loved this name for years and it’s honestly so crushing to hear but I need honest opinions, is the name Esther bad?

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Denim4ever · 03/02/2026 09:35

HushTheNoise · 03/02/2026 09:30

It's a beautiful strong name. ( I don't like Hester, that feels old fashioned to me!) Look up the biblical story of how she saved her people.

Funnily enough we had a Hester at school. Started off as a name people laughed about, but she made her own story and by the end of school she was a cool person who played in a band. Very 80s style.

Mosaic80 · 03/02/2026 09:34

I like it! It's one of the older names making a bit of a comeback like Ivy, Iris, Agnes etc imho. Also nice as it doesn't really shorten (if you're worried about that) so she'll tend to get called the full name.

bluescarf · 03/02/2026 09:30

It’s gorgeous ❤️

HushTheNoise · 03/02/2026 09:30

It's a beautiful strong name. ( I don't like Hester, that feels old fashioned to me!) Look up the biblical story of how she saved her people.

Denim4ever · 03/02/2026 09:29

Elderly relative of mine was an Esther, she who would probably be over 100 if she was still here. She was known as Tet or Tetty. My late 20th century teenage self would have found this an embarrassing name to have, but names from that generation are fashionable now. I like it.

SheSpeaks · 03/02/2026 09:21

It’s a very steady and popular name and has been steadily and consistently so for three decades. It’s not a grandma name or a new riser. I’ve never known anyone struggle to spell it. I know several and because it’s been so consistently popular for so long it’s basically impossible to guess an age if you see it on a form. Could be adult could be baby.

I find it unusual that anyone would object to it.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/02/2026 09:19

It seems dowdy to people cos they associate it with old people but no one is gonna look at your gorgeous baby and think she's dowdy, or at your lively toddler or your voracious teen and think that.
Never discuss names. If I didn't, I might well have a name i still love . I'll always be a little bitter

DappledThings · 03/02/2026 09:19

I really like it. Was on my shortlist.

JustNotFeelingItToday · 03/02/2026 09:18

I know a lovely teenage one. It's a great name. Also like Hester.

ADayAwayFromYourHeart · 03/02/2026 09:16

It's lovely. Lots of "old lady" names have come back again. Loook at all the Mabels!

TappyGilmore · 03/02/2026 09:15

I love it. I know two, one who I think is probably mid to late 40s, and the other probably mid 50s. I can imagine that when both of them were growing up, they probably thought it was a “grandma name”.
But with the trend for old-fashioned, classic names these days, it will fit right in.

GoldenPineapple15 · 03/02/2026 09:15

I teach 2 Esthers . One is 11 and one 16. It’s a lovely name .

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 03/02/2026 09:13

Esther is a lovely name. I know a very sweet 7 year old Esther.

Pearlstillsinging · 03/02/2026 09:10

Great grandma/Grandma names are usually the ones that become popular in the current generation. Your baby will just be slightly ahead of the curve. I bet by the time she is 5 there will be loads of baby Esthers.

Blackcountryexile · 03/02/2026 09:07

I agree that it's a lovely name.Possibly you might get more chance of getting Hester spelt correctly. But then again you might not!

PuppySnores · 03/02/2026 09:04

Perfectly OK name.

Indianajet · 03/02/2026 09:04

I love it.

TalkingShrub · 03/02/2026 09:02

I think it’s lovely.

LauraNorda · 03/02/2026 09:02

If you like it, why give a damn about what other people think?

hattie43 · 03/02/2026 09:01

I like it .

ChurchWindows · 03/02/2026 09:01

The fact that it's that odious toad Giles Coren's wife's name puts me off.

Whatisityoucantface · 03/02/2026 09:00

I love it! And Esti as a nickname. I think it probably is a bit marmite though - like Margaret. But all these names are coming back in. I know of two little girls called Esther

DinoCookie · 03/02/2026 08:57

I don't hate it. I know one in her 20s! When I first heard it, I did think, that's unusual for her age. But now I've got to know her.. it's just her name and it suits her!

OMGitsnotgood · 03/02/2026 08:55

It is lovely. For what it’s worth, a lot of currently very popular names were considered old fashioned when we had our children - Ruby, Violet, Alice, Betty etc. They all make a come back at some point.

My advice is not to tell people your planned names, people are rarely rude enough to comment once the baby is born but somehow feel free to comment before

Overthebow · 03/02/2026 08:55

I like it.