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Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce the name "Esme"

102 replies

shakennotstirred · 28/09/2008 20:52

My dd is called Esme and I have endless trouble with people mispronouncing it...would you pronounce it EsME or EsMAY?

Answers on a postcard, please...

I'll post later on with the "correct" version (or at least the one I consider to be correct)

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WendyWeber · 28/09/2008 20:59

Es-ME

But as Wiki points out, it can be spelt Esmé and that would be EsMAY.

Hulababy · 28/09/2008 21:00

Ez Me (although would probably sound more like Mi - i not I - rather than Me due to accent, etc.)

JoolsToo · 28/09/2008 21:01

ez me, me! me! me!

EnchantedWithEdwardCullen · 28/09/2008 21:01

Ez-me

Love this name

Original poster
shakennotstirred · 28/09/2008 21:02

Agree WendyWeber, with the accent a definite MAY sound on the end. But there's not one, so it has to be ME. I love the meaning of her name - beloved

OP posts:
Original poster
shakennotstirred · 28/09/2008 21:03

Thank you Enchanted!

OP posts:
mamazee · 28/09/2008 21:03

ez mee

frazzledoldbag34 · 28/09/2008 21:04

ez-me

AnarchyAunt · 28/09/2008 21:04

It's a lovely name - but I'm not sure about the pronunciation being obvious.

I assume in my pronunciation (ok, maybe wrongly but anyway) that the accent just isn't written. Same as Zoe which can have some dots over the 'e' and is pronounced as though they are there, even though in practice they aren't, as written English doesn't have them.

If that made any sense.

Miyazaki · 28/09/2008 21:05

All the esmes I know (3) pronounce it with a may sound on the end.

BabyBaby123 · 28/09/2008 21:05

ez-me

Simplysally · 28/09/2008 21:08

Es-May

Original poster
shakennotstirred · 28/09/2008 21:09

But EsMAY sounds horrible in my opinion, which is why I object to her being called it. EsME is far nicer I think

Thank you all for your input...looks as though the "correct" pronounciation has got the most votes so I can go to bed a happy woman!

OP posts:
noonki · 28/09/2008 21:12

are all you Es -may's from the Midlands
and all the Esmi from liverpool/Manchester way?

As a girl from the south I say Es ME (as one of my friends was an Esme)
but with my now gained northern twang I say ESMi

ummm interesting Professor Higgins

Hulababy · 28/09/2008 21:14

I was one who said Ez-mi - from Yorkshire

MaloryDontDiveItsShallow · 28/09/2008 21:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bythepowerofgreyskull · 28/09/2008 21:15

Ez mii

islandofsodor · 28/09/2008 21:15

Ezmay (Staffordshire)

frogs · 28/09/2008 21:16

I would always have gone for Esmeeee. Then we met one who is pronounced Esmay, so I was set straight.

ComeOVeneer · 28/09/2008 21:16

All (3) I know are pronounced Ezmay, but are from SA originally, not sure if that makes a difference.

ComeOVeneer · 28/09/2008 21:17

I am from "down south".

ruddynorah · 28/09/2008 21:18

ezme- yorkshire

SoMuchToBits · 28/09/2008 21:20

As far as I can see, the origins of the name are French, so it should be spelled with an accent on the e, which would make it pronounced Ez-may.

I have a friend who has a daughter with this name though, and she always pronounces it Ez-mee. It makes me cringe, as I always think of the name as being French.

AnarchyAunt · 28/09/2008 21:20

Here

I still think the accent is assumed, even if it is not physically there on the page.

If written Esmee I'd say it your way though.

AnarchyAunt · 28/09/2008 21:21

I am from the Midlands but have posh voice btw.