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Baby names

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

Original poster

Esmé or Darcey?

50 replies

namechangedaily · 14/12/2021 16:46

Which do you prefer for a girl?

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Moonface123 · 14/12/2021 16:50

They are both beautiful names, l have always loved the name Esme.

sayWat06 · 14/12/2021 16:50

Esme

Voldermortsballsack · 14/12/2021 16:52

I think Esmé is the next Isla / Ailla. Beautiful but becoming common!

I love Darcey Smile

pilates · 14/12/2021 17:02

Esme

ODFOgrinch · 14/12/2021 17:06

I like them both but prefer Esme without the accent, pronounced EzMe rather than Essmay.

SummaLuvin · 14/12/2021 17:25

I prefer Esmé. In my region of the UK it is pronounced EZ-MEE regardless of accents over the 'e', which I don't mind, but I know a lot of MN only like the proper French pronunciation so think about how it will pronounced in your region if that bothers you.

RuthW · 14/12/2021 17:43

Esme as long as you aren't saying Esmay

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 14/12/2021 17:45

I love Esme, Darcy not so much

KirstenBlest · 14/12/2021 18:09

Not keen on Esme but dislike Darcey/Darcie/Darcy, which is on a downward trend

jeanne16 · 14/12/2021 18:10

There are rather a lot of Esmes atm.

DoodleBelle · 14/12/2021 18:13

Don’t care for either of them personally both seem a bit über popular 5-10 years ago

Bortles · 14/12/2021 18:19

Esme sounds like a sneeze. I like Esmerelda.
Darcey okay as surname names go.

BorlandRd · 14/12/2021 18:20

Those are both names that were very popular 5-10 years ago but sound a bit dated now, (or in Esme's case re-dated) but if I had to pick from the two I'd go for Darcey, as Esme just makes me think 'Victorian scullery maid'

ohreallynotreally · 14/12/2021 18:22

Esme…pronounced me not may !

Mackmama · 14/12/2021 18:37

Sorry if not helpful but I love Darcey, it was on my list of we’d had a girl. I think it’s elegant like the ballet dancer Darcey Bussell. Esme is nice too but I don’t think I’d choose it x

Thegreencup · 14/12/2021 18:38

@Voldermortsballsack

I think Esmé is the next Isla / Ailla. Beautiful but becoming common!

I love Darcey Smile

So is Darcy.

I know loads of Darcys.

Edenember · 14/12/2021 19:30

Esme. I prefer the Scottish pronunciation to the French but both are nice.

EishetChayil · 14/12/2021 19:31

Esme pronounced Ezz-may is gorgeous. Pronounced Ez-mee is ugly.

lisaandalan · 14/12/2021 22:52

Darcey love it 🥰

DramaAlpaca · 15/12/2021 00:25

I really don't like Darcey, so Esme. As long as it's pronounced ez-me, not ez-may. But I'm not that keen on it.

Luredbyapomegranate · 15/12/2021 00:34

Esme of the two
Darcy is now v downmarket

SummerLew · 15/12/2021 09:39

Esmé is much nicer in my opinion. Darcey is a bit like Madison. Surname-y girls' names do not appeal to me.
Esmé has character.

SummaLuvin · 15/12/2021 10:27

@Luredbyapomegranate

Esme of the two Darcy is now v downmarket
I'm confused by this comment, it sounds like you are saying Darcy is not a good name anymore because poor/working class people use it?
MadeOfStarStuff · 15/12/2021 10:32

Darcy

LozMarieFielder · 16/12/2021 19:24

Both are so nice. Esme is soft and pretty, whilst Darcey is lively and cool.