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Baby names

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Original poster

Esmee or Esmay? WWYD

60 replies

Fable · 22/01/2009 13:45

If you wanted the name pronouced Esmay would you

  1. Use Esmee
  2. Use Esmee with an accent
  3. Use Esmay
OP posts:
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PheasantPlucker · 22/01/2009 13:47

Esmee with an accent would be my choice..

lljkk · 22/01/2009 13:50

I would write it Esmay, relying on most people to see and interpret an accent correctly is unrealistic.

PrincessButtercup · 22/01/2009 13:50

Esme with an accent (unless you particularly want the ee)

MadreInglese · 22/01/2009 13:51

I thought Esme was pronounced "ezmay"

Original poster
Fable · 22/01/2009 13:52
  1. Use Esme
OP posts:
sonniebonnie · 22/01/2009 13:53

Being an old French name:

Esmé is the male form (EZ-may)
Esmée the female form (EZ-mee)

Mung · 22/01/2009 13:57

I have an Esme with the accent and she sometimes gets called EsME, but once people hear me say it they correct themselves. Its not that much of a problem really. Lots of people asked how to pronounce it when she was born. Anyone who asks her name now get told the correct way so there is no problem. To be honest, the worst offenders have been family who are just too lazy to ask or work things out for themselves.

Mung · 22/01/2009 13:58

None of my French friends recognised the name at all, despite me thinking it was an old French name, so ee or e makes very little difference. You also have to remember that on passports and things here you cannot have the accent...that is a pain.

ThumbBurns · 22/01/2009 13:59

Use Esme with an accent.

Ingles2 · 22/01/2009 14:00

use Esme [no accent]

ThumbBurns · 22/01/2009 14:01

didn't know that about passports - I suppose that goes for Zoe and Chloe as well...

AccidentalMum · 22/01/2009 14:04

Use Esme with an accent. I would be confused by Esmee with an accent and not know which way to go .... but then, I can pronouce Renee with an accent just fine.

MauriceDancer · 22/01/2009 14:04

esme no accent imo.

Madmentalbint · 22/01/2009 14:04

My friend's DD is Esme with an accent (pronounced Ez-May).
Darling little thing she is

PuppyMonkey · 22/01/2009 14:04

Use Es- meeee meeee meeee please. Es- may is horrid.

I have an Esme and if anyone dares call her Esmay I slap them really hard.

PuppyMonkey · 22/01/2009 14:06

The name Esme first got popular in Scotland.

ben5 · 22/01/2009 14:06

esme lovely name

Original poster
Fable · 22/01/2009 14:28

Sorry puppy but I really dont like EsME. Is not being able to put the accent on passports a problem?

OP posts:
sonniebonnie · 22/01/2009 14:42

If you use Esmay there is no doubt about the pronounciation and you wouldn't need to worry about any accents either

PuppyMonkey · 22/01/2009 14:47

Esmay is just wrong...reminds me of Desnee that singer.

thread on it here if interested: here

trixymalixy · 22/01/2009 14:47

Esme

Original poster
Fable · 22/01/2009 14:58

I dont know who that singer is. Thanks for linking, off to have a read

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 22/01/2009 15:29

Of course, I actually meant Desree. But it's the same difference!

The one who sings about the ghost and eating toast and stuff.

Original poster
Fable · 22/01/2009 16:20

Oh now I know

Thanks for that thread, it was good to read.

OP posts:
cece · 22/01/2009 18:01

I have an Esme but we say it EsME not EsMAY. It really surprised me the first time someone did it as I didn't know it was possible to say it that way.

TBH we only get the ocasional person persisting with the wrong pronouciation. Most people sort it out once they hear me say it. Last year though her teacher her called her EsMAY all year (grrrrr)

I think you should spell it Esme with an accent as it is my understanding of how EsMAY is actually spelt.