Esper first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Esper has been for the last 8 years (from 2017 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Esper

One of rare unisex names derived from the word "esperanto".

Popularity of Esper by gender

Based on the last 8 years of data, Esper is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 61% of people named Esper being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Esper.

Year Male Count Female Count
2024 0 5
2019 7 0
2017 0 6

The history of the first name Esper

The given name Esper has its origins in the ancient Greek language, where it was derived from the word "esperos," meaning "evening" or "evening star." This name likely emerged during the Classical Greek period, which spanned from the 5th to the 4th century BC.

In Greek mythology, Hesperus (also known as Esperos) was the personification of the "evening star," which was often associated with the planet Venus. The name Esper was likely used to honor this celestial figure, symbolizing the transition from day to night.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Esper can be found in the works of the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician, Ptolemy, who lived in the 2nd century AD. In his astronomical treatise, the "Almagest," Ptolemy referred to the planet Venus as "Hesperus" when it appeared in the evening sky.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Esper. One of the most famous was Esper the Scholarly (c. 380 - 455 AD), a Roman grammarian and philosopher who wrote extensively on the Latin language and literature. His works were highly influential during the Middle Ages.

Another noteworthy figure was Esper of Saxony (c. 1050 - 1124 AD), a German monk and historian who chronicled the events of his time in the "Annales Saxonici," providing valuable insights into the medieval period.

In the Renaissance era, Esper Biel (1435 - 1489) was a renowned German philosopher and theologian. His works, such as the "Canonis Missae Expositio," contributed significantly to the development of Catholic theology.

During the Enlightenment, Esper Everhard (1712 - 1781) was a Swedish naturalist and entomologist who made notable contributions to the study of insects. His work, "De Natura Insectorum," was a seminal text in the field of entomology.

In more recent times, Esper Geiger (1870 - 1939) was a German physicist and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of early radio technology. His research laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication systems.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Esper was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Esper, please contact us.

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"Esper first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 23, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/esper-meaning-and-history/.

"Esper first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/esper-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 23 September, 2025

Esper first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/esper-meaning-and-history/.

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