Esta
A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "that" or "these".
Name Census estimates that about 867 living Americans carry the first name Esta. It is a predominantly female name (99.4% of registrations). The average person named Esta today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Esta births was 1920 (117 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Esta. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Esta is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Estas were born before 1969.
People living today
867
~ 1 in 395,334 Americans
Peak year
1920
117 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1926 SSA rank
#3,856
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Esta
Out of the 4,457 babies given the name Esta since 1880, 99.4% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Esta as a male name
- Ranked #3,856 in 1926
- 6 male births in 1926
- Peak: 1916 (6 births)
Esta as a female name
- Ranked #11,379 in 2024
- 8 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1920 (117 births)
Popularity
Esta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Esta from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 883 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Esta by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Esta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Estas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 18 states and territories. New York, Texas, West Virginia recorded the most babies named Esta, while Mississippi, Massachusetts, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 79 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Esta
Esta is a feminine given name with roots in various cultures and languages around the world. Its origins can be traced back to the Latin word "aestas," meaning "summer." In Spanish and Portuguese, "esta" translates to "this" or "this one," suggesting a sense of presence or immediacy.
The name Esta has been recorded in historical documents and literature throughout different eras. In ancient Roman texts, it was occasionally used as a shortened version of female names like Estella or Estelle. During the Middle Ages, the name appeared sporadically in various European regions, although its popularity remained relatively low.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Esta can be found in the 13th-century genealogical records of the House of Plantagenet, a royal dynasty that ruled England from 1154 to 1485. Esta de Longchamp (c. 1240 - c. 1300) was a noblewoman who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Eleanor of Castile.
In the 16th century, the name gained some prominence in Italy, where Esta Trotti (1497 - 1567) was a renowned Renaissance poet and member of the prestigious Accademia dei Pastori in Mantua. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
During the 18th century, Esta Brite (1718 - 1792) was a notable figure in colonial America. She was a Quaker preacher and activist who advocated for the abolition of slavery and the fair treatment of Native Americans.
In the 19th century, Esta Loche (1822 - 1898) was a French painter and illustrator known for her vibrant depictions of rural life and landscapes. Her works were exhibited at the prestigious Paris Salon and gained recognition among her contemporaries.
Another notable figure was Esta Brooks (1879 - 1957), an American writer and journalist who documented the experiences of women during World War I. Her memoir, "Stretcher-Bearers at the Front," provided a unique perspective on the challenges faced by female volunteers on the battlefields of Europe.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Esta. While its usage has remained relatively uncommon, the name has persisted across various cultures and time periods, carrying with it a sense of warmth, vibrancy, and presence.
People
Esta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Esta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Esta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Esta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 867 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Esta going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 395,334 US residents.
Is Esta a common name?
We classify Esta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 4,457 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Esta most popular?
The single biggest year for Esta was 1920, when 117 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Esta is about 67 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Esta a female name?
Yes, 99.4% of people registered as Esta in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.