How would you pronounce the name "Esme"

[shakennotstirred]

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)

Ez-may

I'd pronounce it neither Es-MEE nor Es-MAY but as Es-MEH (like Renee). But I would happily agree to whatever pronounciation was preferred [smiled].

es me

Es May
Maybe just because I've never heard it Es Me.

Why can we only choose between EsMAY or EsMEE. I'd pronounce the ME as a long e as in elephant, if that makes sense . Just like Renee.

I'd say Ez-May

I'd say Es me. I know of an Es may but much prefer Es me!

But I thought Renee was pronounced Renay - to rhyme with Ezmay?

My grandmother was called Esme and it was always Ez Me not Ez May.

Yes, the ée in Renée, Desirée and Esmée is pronoucned the same in French. It is a long e sound.

I know of 2 Esmes and both pronounce it Ez may. I have never heard of it pronounced Es mee?. Just doesnt sound right imo, but then I live in Ireland so maybe we are just odd here :)

SoMuchToBits I also thought it was french and pronounced Esmay.
Didn't know it could be pronounced any other way.
Why give a kid a French name then complain when it is pronounced correctly?

Ez-MAY

in my accent

ez mi

i have an Emma i call esme

Bollocks, I really like this name - on current shortlist - and had always assumed it was Ez-May. This confusion is making me have second thoughts...

I always thought it was Ez-may. I know one and that is how she pronounced it.

The one I know is Es-May

I know three too - all Ezmay. Seems like the natural pronunciation to me as it's of French origin and sounds prettier IMO

Ez-may

I always thought it was Ez-may. I knew two adult Esmes growing up who both pronounced it with the '-may' soud (one was French, one was Scottish).

All the little girls I have come across with this name, however, seem to pronounce it Ez-mee.

Es-may is prettier IMO - had never heard it pronounced Es-me until I came on here.

Isn't it irrelevant if it's out of fashion in France? Doesn't negate the fact that the name originated there.

My daughter's not unusual name has three accepted pronunciations - none of them are more or less 'correct', just more or less preferred. We chose the one we like best and which goes best with our surname and have made our peace with the fact that we will have to correct people sometimes. It's no big deal - don't choose such a name if you're going to be precious about it (meant in the nicest possible way) - people aren't mind-readers. :)

Es-mee. Never heard it pronounced Esmay. You'd need an accent over the 'e' wouldn't you?

Ireland Esme = Es-May

DH is Scottish and has friends in Glasgow with an Esme who pronounce it Ezmay. However, I've just asked DH to say it both ways and with his accent they sound exactly the same so maybe consider a move north of the border!