Find out how popular the first name Essie has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Essie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Essie is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Essie being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 53 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Essie.

The history of the first name Essie

The given name Essie is a diminutive form of the name Esther, which has its origins in the Persian language. Esther was a Jewish queen of Persia who lived in the 5th century BCE. The name Esther is derived from the Persian word "star" or "stellar."

Esther is a prominent figure in the Old Testament and the Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates her bravery in saving the Jewish people from persecution. The book of Esther in the Bible details her story, and her name has been used throughout Jewish history.

The diminutive form Essie emerged as an English variant of Esther, likely in the 19th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Essie was Essie Summers, an American actress born in 1886.

Another notable Essie was Essie Stein, born in 1890, who was a prominent philanthropist and advocate for women's rights in the early 20th century. Stein was instrumental in establishing several organizations dedicated to improving the lives of women and children in New York City.

In literature, Essie is the name of a character in the novel "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, published in 1899. The novel is considered an important work of feminist literature and Essie represents the societal expectations placed on women during that era.

Essie Davis, an Australian actress born in 1970, is another well-known person with this given name. She has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including "The Babadook" and "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries."

Essie Summers, the American actress mentioned earlier, was known for her roles in several silent films in the early 20th century, including "The Squaw Man" (1914) and "Hell-Roarin' Reform" (1919).

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 Essie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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