Esme

[jemillyp]

I really do think Esme is the best, most beautiful name for a girl. Unusual, but not too unusual.

Unfortunately my partner isn’t a fan!
Anyone able to suggest something similar? Thankyou! Also, as I’m hoping he might come round to the idea, please let me know which middle name you like best, or suggest others! Thank you :-)

Esme Rose
Esme Grace
Esme Lilly
Esme Reya
Esme Rey

Don't ask me why...

I don’t think it’s too overused, but the three Esme’s we do know, all have Grace as a middle name! (One is a God-daughter, one from our NCT group and one at DSs school). They are, however, all 7-9, so may be less common now.

Love Esme.

How about Ines/Inez as an alternative. Or Zoe

Inez May or Zoe May

I’m not keen. I heard it on an episode of GA for an elderly lady and I found the name frumpy and dour, but I understand why it appeals.

It’s a sly, sleek, sophisticated, and mysterious kind of name.

Something similar:

Eve
Rose
Anna
Selena
Selene/Celine
Vera (nms, but you may like)
Ines/imInez
Jade
Jasmine

Our DD was nearly called Esme but I pronounced it Ez-me and numerous people pronounced it back to me Ez-may so I decided to avoid a lifetime of correction/mispronunciation

We have an Esme, pronounced Ehz-May - the traditional pronunciation - and really love the name. I had a Great Aunt Esmé but we decided to go without the accent (which seems more popular nowadays). In seven years, only two people have used an accent, despite knowing we don’t. Ironically, the two people who insist on using the accent also insist on pronouncing it Ez-Mee. Other than that, it’s always been pronounced and spelt the way we preferred. Also, in seven years, we’ve only met one other Esme who is a similar age to dd.
Other names on my list (that I still like) were Mabel, Maeve, Mae. You can see why I went with the Ehz-May pronunciation
Ps. It’s worth noting that although there are traditional / original / popular ways to spell or pronounce a name, there is no correct way. Apologies to all name purists but it’s true

Esme is no. 43 in the name charts, so not super popular but not uncommon. I think it's pretty, but I once knew a horrible Esme and so it's put me off. As pp said, I much prefer May - very underused as a first name, and a classic.

Rose and Grace are extremely popular as middle names, to the point where I don't really see the point in using them - they just seem like filler names to me. Lily is ok, bit I prefer Lila, Leila, Lyra or even Luna. Reya and Rey - not keen - I'd prefer Ray as a spelling. Middle names are barely used, so it seems like a good opportunity to use something unusual / daring, or something more meaningful.

Other names you might like -

Isla
Eloise
Elodie
Maisie
Freya
Rosa
Rosalie
Hazel
Fleur
Flora
Ivy