Is this name too rare to be used?

[SilkyChocolate]

I'm due in November with a girl, and I've really been liking the name Estée (pronounced ess-tay) after finding out that I had an ancestor called this. It's very simple and pretty to me. I think my DH is starting to come round to it too. Just wondering if I've gone mad.

My DD (16) has a friend who is called Este. Her birth name is Celeste but she has dropped the 'Cel' and claimed Este as her name. It's cool!

I think it’s fine. I like it. I didn’t immediately think of the brand. I would use the accent, though, or people will say it wrongly.

I know an Estee, it’s a beautiful name!

I taught a lovely girl called Estée once. Just pronounce it properly (Est-ay, not Est-ee) and you’re good to go! I’d use it. It’s a beautiful name.

There’s no reason not to use the accent though? French kids manage it in their own name so it’s patronising to assume that kids are incapable of using it. My (French) son has an accent in his name and has been using/writing it correctly since he was 5.
The only place where you don’t use it is on the child’s passport, since HMPO don’t accept/print accents.

I think everyone you tell will hear S.T ….and wonder what those initials stand for?

I like it, but I’d expect to be correcting people who hear Esther a lot.

I have 26 year old colleague named this

That is my gut feeling, too.

This was on my shortlist for DD!
We went with Esme instead!

I know a baby Estee (cant figure out how to put the accent on my phone)
I think it’s lovely!

Same.

What about Estelle instead

Sorry OP, I would instantly think of Lauder every single time because it’s a brand that was constantly around in the 80s.

Mind you, I am particularly susceptible to this; every time someone starts a sentence with “I feel like…” I just want to say “…chicken tonight!”

Advertising slogans and brands obviously stick in my head! Others might not have the same strong association with the perfume/makeup brand.

Great choice! Esme is a beautiful name.

I like it but I think you would be sentencing her to a lifetime of “you mean like Estée Lauder?”

I love it. Please, if you’re going to use it, spell it with the accent. Without it would be pronounced differently. I’ve lived 40+ years with a name with an accent and it has never bothered me in the slightest.
I also love the name Lenor (though it’s too fabric softener ish haha), Thuli, Dulcie, Élodie, Mirabelle, Seren… just in case we have similar taste in names

Personally, I wouldn't because the connection with Lauder is too strong for me.

I agree with what a lot of other people have said that in a lot of British regional accents it won't sound very nice (and I think that's applicable in Leeds?!)

If you do use it. You need to use the accent or it will definitely not be pronounced the way you want to be.

I do as many other others have suggested and use Estelle or similar, on her birth certificate & registration in places, & keep Estée as a nickname.

Cute, what do you think about Esme or Stevie