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Original poster

Pronunciation of Esme

172 replies

Halfpastfreckle · 02/09/2018 09:56

We had pretty much decided on this name if this baby (currently 32 weeks) is a girl. I think of it as es-may. However at the park yesterday I heard one little boy call out to his sister Es-mee. Don’t like this at all and frankly it is putting me off. Is this a common pronunciation of the name??

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ThisIsNotARealAvo · 02/09/2018 10:25

Since when do we need accents in English to know how to pronounce words? Esme pronounced esmay is a well known pronunciation of the name. Lots of names aren't pronounced how they are written but for some reason Esme always seems to bring out the pedants.

ZigZagZebras · 02/09/2018 10:26

Ive only heard it as ez - may

MollyHuaCha · 02/09/2018 10:27

I've known a few (UK) and they've always been pronounced EZ-mee. Never heard it any other way.

I'd happily say EZ-may to anyone who used that pronunciation.

It's like the names Sara, Helena, Lucia - there's more than one way to say them. Just go for it and tell people your preferred pronunciation.

SemperIdem · 02/09/2018 10:38

Es-may.

I’ve heard Es-mee once in real life. I don’t like it.

I think it’s like Clara though, two distinct pronunciations.

ISeeTheLight · 02/09/2018 10:42

Esme is a Dutch name and is pronounced Es-may

Freyanna · 02/09/2018 11:28

Ezmay

MikeUniformMike · 02/09/2018 11:39

It's not spelt Esmè. It's Esmée.

VanessaShanessaJenkins · 02/09/2018 11:41

I've known 2 and both were ez-me so I've always assumed that was the way it was said.

gimeallthecake · 02/09/2018 11:45

Would pronounce Ez May, never heard of it pronounced as Esmee. I don't think it's contrived.

LittleBookofCalm · 02/09/2018 12:24

there surely is only one way to pronounce clara?

Cosmoa · 02/09/2018 12:30

Yeah just spell it Esmé. Accent needs to be that way as é makes the 'ay' sound.

ReginaPhalange89 · 02/09/2018 12:32

Ez-may

Esmee sounds terrible !

DramaAlpaca · 02/09/2018 12:35

It's Esmee to me.

I dislike the Esmay pronunciation.

Giggorata · 02/09/2018 12:39

Ez-may.
No idea where Ez-mee comes from, never heard anyone say it like that. I think it is a mispronunciation of Ez-may.

SendYouUpInFlames · 02/09/2018 12:40

Ny friends little girl is Esme.

Its said as EZ-MAY

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 02/09/2018 12:42

I know two Esme's. One is in her 70's and the other is 3. Both pronounced Esmee.

LittleBookofCalm · 02/09/2018 12:53

I am sure it wont matter op, if it is her middle name, and rarely used.

cariadlet · 02/09/2018 12:58

there surely is only one way to pronounce clara?

I've heard Clar-ruh and Clair-ruh.

Bananamanfan · 02/09/2018 12:58

I've only ever heard ez-may, did not know ez-mee was an option

daisypond · 02/09/2018 13:31

I'd probably pronounce Esme as Es-mee.
Esmée would be the French female spelling, pronounced a bit like "ay" at the end.
Esmé has a masculine ending, so should be a boy's name, as it traditionally always was.
It's a bit like the difference between Amy (Ai-mee) and Aimée (ai-may).

ladycarlotta · 02/09/2018 13:52

So surprised that people think Ez-May is contrived. AFAIK that's the correct pronunciation!

Armchairanarchist · 02/09/2018 13:57

Never heard it pronounced me only May and I know several.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 02/09/2018 14:23

Esmé = Ez-may
Esme= Ez-mee

LeeMiller · 02/09/2018 14:47

I know 2 Esmes in their 30s/40s (one Scottish and one from London) who are both 'Ez-mee', and 2 baby Esmes both 'Ez-may'.

In the post-Twilight era I think Ez-may is more common, and using an accent might be a way to encourage this pronunciation if it's the one you prefer.

Pleasedontdrawonyoursister · 02/09/2018 15:50

We have an Esme pronounced Es-mee, but know a couple of others who pronounce it Es-may. It really winds my partner up when people say it wrong, we also get it spelt wrong in cards all the time. To be honest I think it’s a beautiful name when pronounced either way (biased I know!). I also like that she can choose when she’s older - kind of like giving her two name options Grin.