Esme pronunciation

[Buddhabowl]

If you don't mind could you tell me how you would pronounce Esme and whereabouts you live? I like Ezmee but DH has only heard Ezmay.
I like both but just want to use a pronunciation that is least likely to be pronounced incorrectly.
I'm in the South East and until recently had only heard Ezmee but I'm getting the impression up north it is always Ezmay.
If it's too contentious I think we might go with Daphne instead!

I pronounce same as your Dh.

Ez may, I’m in London

I'm from south Wales.

Definitely Esmay for me & I'm in the North East

Must be Ezmay surely as it comes from the French? Z is pronounced quite softly, almost like SS.

Ezmay. Glasgow

Ez-may.
It's French originally - Esmé.

It's Ezmay, it's a French name. Ezmee sounds terrible.

I love the name but wouldn't use it because so many people pronounce it wrong.

Same as your DH, Ezmay. South East.

Esmay as it's a French name. Midlands.

I have an Esmé, and it's pronounced Ezmay, and we live in the East Midlands. We like the accent on the e, as I think that makes it clear, but often people forget to add it on, or computers don't have the function, so we have to accept it might not always get put on.

She mostly gets called Ezmay, but occasionally we have to correct people.

Ez-May here always too - grew up with a girl called Esmé. South East. French name, so pronounced accordingly.

Only ever heard Es -me here in the south until very recently. I hadn't realised Ez-May wasn't an affectation and quite common pronounciation until mumsnet!

I love Es-me but would worry about the other pronounciation being the usual one.

I have a close relative who says it Esmee. Gets both pronunciations all the time, I’d say an even split if I’m honest. We are South East. I would say Esmee unless the name was spelt specifically with an accent on the second e

Ezmay, and Ezmy. South England.
I’d bear in mind that the young Esme is going to have to correct the pronunciation herself to others who get it wrong.

I'm Northern and say Ezmee. I prefer that pronunciation, but think Ezmay is more used.

It's one of those names, like Evelyn or Helena, that will often be pronounced the 'wrong' way by people meeting her for the first time. Doesn't have to be a major issue though.

Ez'may' - East Midlands

Ez-may - I'm from the North. I've never heard it pronounced any other way.

Ezmay

Ez-'may' - Scotland (via London)

Always Esmee ....I’m in the NW

I would say Ezmay, but I think Esmee is fine too- as you are using the anglicised spelling, so the anglicised pronunciation is also fine. Definitely do not write Esmé, which is incorrect for a girl.

Ez-may Scottish background.

In French it's neither Esmee nor Esmay. Its Esmé. Pronounced Es mé. There's no -ay sound there.

So therefore in English you can use whatever pronunciation works best in English.