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Baby names

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Original poster

Esmé..

53 replies

bonbailey · 05/02/2023 06:06

Do you like the name Esmé firstly? Secondly how would you pronounce it? Thank you!

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Luredbyapomegranate · 05/02/2023 15:23

I like it but honestly it's done to death. I'd say it Es-me as a default but
Ez-may (which is an Anglicised attempt at pronouncing it the French way I think) seems equally popular.

How about Estella?

Highdaysandholidays1 · 05/02/2023 15:40

I say it Es-mee but not sure if that's correct. Not that fond of it if I'm honest, or rather, I think there's lots of nicer girls names out there.

Twoinapod · 05/02/2023 16:21

I’ve Only ever known ones said as ez-may but from being on here I know ez-mee is also common. It’s a very popular name. I don’t see the appeal of it personally.

Tallulasdancingshoes · 05/02/2023 16:24

I like it and would pronounce it Ez-May.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 05/02/2023 16:38

I like it. Ez-mee, I think.

Lorrymum · 05/02/2023 16:42

Beautiful name

PuppyMonkey · 05/02/2023 16:46

My Esme is pronounced EZ-me, - more a quick mi at the end there, not a meeeeeeee. We can’t understand anyone who likes the Es-may pronunciation tbh, just sounds like “dismay”. My Esme will certainly correct anyone who dares to say that to her.Grin

People on here go on about the French origins but we only ever heard of it from the Scottish tradition where it’s certainly not may on the end.

WetBandits · 05/02/2023 16:51

Most Esmes I’ve met have been Ezz-mee. I love that pronunciation. I really hate the Ezz-may pronunciation though!

FebruaryWhining · 05/02/2023 17:14

My lovely great auntie was Esme, pronounced EZ-me.

She did put an acute accent on her final e, but nobody else did and it was never pronounced Es-mé.

Until about 2000, I had never met anyone else with the name, it was super unusual!

Makemetry · 05/02/2023 17:18

Ez-mee. It doesn’t need an accent. It’s not a French word or name. It is popular among old Scottish ladies.

Pinkdafodils · 05/02/2023 17:19

Ez-may which is an Anglicised attempt at pronouncing it the French way

Attempt is right Grin

iusedtobeasize8 · 05/02/2023 17:24

Makes me think of Eczema

RuthW · 05/02/2023 17:51

Ez- me

Can't bear it said Ez -may.

If you don't like both don't pick it.

Mimilamore · 05/02/2023 17:58

Loads in school but if this doesn't worry you go for it

nameXname · 05/02/2023 18:43

Previous poster is right; if this is for a girl and you are using accents, then it needs to be Esmee (with accent on the first e). Esme (accent) with just one e is very much a French male name.

For those saying 'Esmay' is wrong, well, as other posters have said, it's as near as many English-speakes can get to the French original, which is, as others have also said, very roughly Esmeh. Listen here: forvo.com/word/esm%C3%A9/#fr

For those Scots like myself, the Scottish accent has vowel sounds that are often very close to French and just don't exist in modern English.

Esme/Esmee as a personal name originated in Scotland. The name is not "Es-maaay" but it is Es-meh or Es-mey - the same sound as in 'James' (= Scots James/Jehms). Or, if it helps, just imagine that you are in Dundee and asking for a pie - it's the same sound in the Dundonian accent as 'news -peh-per'. And I KNOW - my granny was from there.

The accent is on the FIRST syllable.

Brilliant discussion of east coast Scots vowels by an Italian - -she's really good

Personally, I much prefer (for a girl) the French Edmee (acute accent on first syllable). It means much the same as Esme/Esmee. It's pronounced Ed-mey. forvo.com/word/edm%C3%A9e/#fr

MumofSpud · 05/02/2023 18:44

I have one - pronounced Ez-May
Although today someone called her Esmeralda Grin
We often 'shorten' it to Ezzie

Infinitebows · 05/02/2023 18:47

Esmie ?

Just a thought, as in Amy is also sometimes Amie

In your case to ensure no 'may' at the end if that's the concern?

Stardu · 05/02/2023 18:49

I like it.

I’ve known several in my life and they all pronounced it Ez-may.

sparklecrazy · 05/02/2023 18:53

There's an Esme in my DT's class, pronounced "Es-mee". I like it.

VenturaMabel · 05/02/2023 18:56

The one I know is Ez-Me

ShillyShallySherbet · 05/02/2023 18:59

Ez-May
I wouldn’t bother with the accent if you live in an English speaking country. Too much of a faff.

pilates · 05/02/2023 19:00

Love it and would say Ez-me

ShowOfHands · 05/02/2023 19:06

I teach three and they all pronounce it differently. I know which is which now but it took a while.

They are Es-mee, Ez-me and Ez-may.

nameXname · 05/02/2023 19:11

Why are all so many posters not following the rules of French and/or Scottish pronunciation?

Eac to their own, of course, but:

The name is from the French language. It is a participle (part of a word often used when describing). It means 'esteemed'.

It was first widely used as a name in Scotland, at least in part because of the Auld Alliance en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Alliance. As a matter of coincidence, Scots and French share many vowel sounds. These include the final syllable of Esme/Esmee (both with the accent on the 'e' following the 'm'). The sound = approx 'meh' or 'mey'. Not 'mee'.

But, as I have said, each to their own.

JussathoB · 05/02/2023 19:24

ShillyShallySherbet · 05/02/2023 18:59

Ez-May
I wouldn’t bother with the accent if you live in an English speaking country. Too much of a faff.

I agree. My DD ‘s name has a hyphen and now everything is computerised I worry about there being problems if say tickets don’t have the correct spelling. I think Esme is a beautiful name. However she may have to spell it out a lot