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Baby names

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Original poster

Would you pronounce Esme - Es-me or Es-may?

69 replies

Minicooper · 08/08/2009 10:11

I know it depends on whether you use an accent, but just wondering. Think I prefer Es-me, but Es-may is prob the original pronunication. And how popular is it in your neck of the woods?

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MoonHare · 05/10/2012 13:29

It's interesting to see this bumped thread.

We're considering Esme for DC3 due soon. I did some research that suggested the correct pn is Ez-may with the accent over the last e, from the French. It was a unisex name in France but has been regarded as female for many years now.

I much prefer the sound Ez-may to Ez-mee.

SuzanneIBCLC · 05/10/2012 11:23

My Esme is 15 and def is called Esme not may.

tammy234 · 14/05/2010 12:52

I think Esmee sounds nice in French (Es-meh), but both Es-may and Es-mee sounds wrong to my ears.

Hedwig3 · 14/05/2010 11:46

Nice name but don't you find needing to have this sort of discussion puts you off?

ShowOfHands · 14/05/2010 11:27

Stop bumping Esme threads.

This instant.

gemcgem · 14/05/2010 11:25

i liked esme but i like it es-may an after months of back an forward about spelling an pronunication we decided on it as a middle name spelt esmae .

StrictlyTory · 13/05/2010 12:09

Ez-Mee, can't stand Es-May!

crumpette · 12/05/2010 15:42

Es-mee (with an accent) i.e. more like Es-may

Enna1234 · 12/05/2010 15:09

My daughter is called Esme and we have always pronounce it Es may, I think it is the same as Andre and names like that, no accent over the final e but still pronounced ay

lotspot · 11/08/2009 12:31

There are two at our Brownie pack - both are Es-me

PuppyMonkey · 11/08/2009 12:23

Nah, Esmay is just people pronouncing it wrong Ali.

Alishanty · 10/08/2009 21:29

I have an Esme and we pronounce it Es-mee. She sometimes gets Ezmay but I didn't know people pronounced it that way. I have always thought it was Esmee after my gran saying she had a friend at school with that name so I thought that was the 'old' way and Ezmay is a modern take on the name.

cthea · 09/08/2009 21:15

I'd say it Es-meh. I've only met 2 girls (both under 2) and I can't remember how their mums pr. it (but not like I would).

annasmami · 09/08/2009 21:10

Please note that in France people would assume René and Esmé were boys and Renée and Esmée were girls.

DaisymooSteiner · 09/08/2009 10:40

I would pronounce it Es-may, but that's because I used to like that really dire Australian soap 'A Country Practice' when I was a teenager and that's how they pronounced it

PuppyMonkey · 09/08/2009 10:37

Pronouncing it Esmay always makes me think of Des'ree that singer. Or is it Des'nee??? Oh I dunno, anyway I don't like it.

On another thread about the name Esme, some very learned person cam long and said all this stuff about French accents etc was a load of poo anyway. The name Esmee with accents does not actually get used over there at all.

But I dunno... is there a French person here who can confirm if it is a much used name over there? I know it was very common in Scotland at one time. For a boy!

juuule · 09/08/2009 09:25

Think in phonics it's short 'e'.

juuule · 09/08/2009 09:24

I think you mean the 'meh' sound.
That's how we pronounce it, too.

mopsyflopsy · 09/08/2009 08:55

Hard to describe the -mée part as it is not a sound found in English. I guess like -may bit without the 'y' at the ending. Not sure if I explained that well .

purplehighheels · 08/08/2009 23:12

My 4 yr old is named Esme and we pronounce it Es-me. I don't know of any others, so not too popular.

ReneRusso · 08/08/2009 21:59

I know one Esme and for her its Es-mee. very nice name

greensnail · 08/08/2009 21:51

I know two pronounced es-may, and one pronounced es-mee.
Apparently the Es-mee often gets es-may though

NotanOtter · 08/08/2009 21:49

i seee

i dont get that meh sound though - what is it like?

mopsyflopsy · 08/08/2009 21:48

Actually,

Esmée (female version) should be pronounced like Renée (neither Es-mee nor Es-may, but Es-meh)

Esmé (like René) is the MALE version.

We English are of course free to pronounce and use these names in our own, made up way .

NotanOtter · 08/08/2009 21:47

i think it should be thus Esmé not pretentious just makes it more easily pronouncable

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