What do you think of the name Esmée?

[kankuraon]

We will find out next week if we’re having a boy or girl but seriously considering this one if it’s a girl!

For context, my husband is French but we currently live in an English speaking country. Our baby will grow up speaking both English and French.

Also curious to hear what nicknames come to mind :-)

How is it pronounced? I would have guessed Ez may, but the extra E and accent mean I don't know.

It was very popular because it appears in the twilight books and then they call the daughter they have renesmee.

It's one of those names that sounds nice if you say it clipped. But when someone is barking it across the playground "ezzz maaaaauy" it isn't quite as refined.

One of the nicest girls at school (fifty years ago) was called Esmé, so I’ve always liked it. But right now it’s the name of a whiny newcomer on The Archers, so I’m rapidly going off it.

Never heard any regularly used diminutive. ((Es / Essie?)

I really like it!

I like it. Popular about 15/20 years ago.

Beautiful.

Its popular...
But I think it sounds smug(?) Or precious when said aloud and reminds of the word smear.

I dont like it

It doesn't need a diminutive, but it might get shortened to 'Es'or 'Ez'.
The accent may be problematic and Esme, Esmay, Ezmae and other spellings are popular in the UK.
It gets said as Esmay, Esmy, Ezmay etc.
Baby name explorer

I really like it but there are variations in both spelling and pronunciation which sadly would put me off

I like Essie but prefer it as a nn for Esmeralda.

I know lots of Esmes (my DC are teens so @RosesAndHellebores may be right about the timing) but none with a double e at the end. Some are pronounced Es-mee and some are Es-may which can be confusing, but it is a pretty name.

This is a marmite name on Mumsnet!
I have one (!) - born just before the first Twilight book was published (I did get the name from a book but not that one!)
I taught her from a v v early age to say she was not named after Twilight!
Because of her age she never had another Esme at any school / brownie etc group and she’s always liked her name.
She’s often called ‘Essie’ or ‘Ez’

Beautiful

I love it - but have only ever seen it with one e at the end, not sure how you would pronounce it with an acute on the first e followed by an e?

@SirChenjins , Esmé in France is a boy's name. Esmée is the feminine version and the final E is silent.
It's Esmay (or thereabouts).

I prefer Esmée and Esmae to Esme - think it’s a pretty name! Go for it

Esmae is awful.

I've just finished reading a book where the main male character (posh, early 20th century) is called Esmé. I assume even in England Esmé used to be male, Esmée female. And because it's a French name and OP has a French husband, she's not going to want the traditionally male spelling.

(I'm not a fan of the name either way, feels a bit twee to me.)

The accent makes it have an “ay” sound and so I would guess it’s pronounced “ez-may” ?

personally I like it and I’m very particular with names. I think it’s very pretty how it’s spelt.

(I’m French and do love French names too)

Terry Pratchett is my first thought (Witches Abroad, Wyrd Sisters). Love the name.
edit - could choose to use Mae/May as an alternative nickname

Love it

There's an extra E with no accent, so that's why I wouldn't know how to pronounce it

Isn't it short for Esmerelda in TPs Witches books though?

My aunt, born in 1930 was Esme, so it still sounds old fashioned to me, although I know several aged between 5 to 14.

I have an Esme (pronounced Esmee not Esmay) so I am biased, but I loved it as a name when she was a baby and still love it 16 years on. She gets called Es quite a lot. She also gets it mispronounced as Esmay, but says this doesn’t bother her. Good luck whatever you decide!

How is it pronounced? Is this a regular French spelling? Be wary of naming your child in such a way that she'll forever need to clarify the spelling and pronunciation of her name.