Esther
#119 for girls in 2025, 2,277 births · Last seen for boys in 2022 at #12,330
Given to girls 99.6% of the time
Showing
- Peak · girls
- 1896 · 1,964 births
- Debut · girls
- 198 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 54 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 271,234since 1880
Esther over time
girls
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #119 | 2,277 | — | |
| 2024 | #130 | 2,220 | — | |
| 2023 | #138 | 2,026 | — | |
| 2022 | #138 | 2,088 | #12,330 | 5 |
| 2021 | #153 | 1,847 | — | |
| 2020 | #148 | 1,832 | #12,022 | 5 |
| 2019 | #165 | 1,732 | — | |
| 2018 | #151 | 1,860 | — | |
| 2017 | #165 | 1,836 | — | |
| 2016 | #182 | 1,814 | — | |
| 2015 | #203 | 1,625 | — | |
| 2014 | #199 | 1,669 | — | |
| 2013 | #222 | 1,440 | #9,655 | 7 |
| 2012 | #237 | 1,344 | — | |
| 2011 | #233 | 1,356 | — | |
| 2010 | #260 | 1,259 | #10,766 | 6 |
| 2009 | #260 | 1,254 | — | |
| 2008 | #267 | 1,282 | — | |
| 2007 | #272 | 1,261 | — | |
| 2006 | #287 | 1,158 | — | |
| 2005 | #272 | 1,203 | — | |
| 2004 | #294 | 1,114 | — | |
| 2003 | #283 | 1,103 | — | |
| 2002 | #296 | 1,059 | — | |
| 2001 | #293 | 1,072 | — | |
| 2000 | #323 | 982 | — | |
| 1999 | #310 | 994 | — | |
| 1998 | #321 | 941 | — | |
| 1997 | #315 | 935 | — | |
| 1996 | #317 | 890 | — | |
| 1995 | #300 | 924 | — | |
| 1994 | #287 | 958 | — | |
| 1993 | #299 | 907 | #5,771 | 9 |
| 1992 | #291 | 948 | #6,128 | 8 |
| 1991 | #298 | 935 | #5,942 | 8 |
| 1990 | #283 | 983 | #6,415 | 7 |
| 1989 | #289 | 903 | #4,527 | 11 |
| 1988 | #276 | 913 | — | |
| 1987 | #288 | 849 | #4,968 | 8 |
| 1986 | #284 | 861 | #4,853 | 8 |
| 1985 | #288 | 859 | #5,147 | 7 |
| 1984 | #271 | 884 | #4,215 | 9 |
| 1983 | #273 | 860 | #4,907 | 7 |
| 1982 | #267 | 935 | #4,234 | 9 |
| 1981 | #272 | 913 | #5,468 | 6 |
| 1980 | #295 | 842 | — | |
| 1979 | #312 | 766 | #4,842 | 7 |
| 1978 | #320 | 716 | — | |
| 1977 | #310 | 767 | — | |
| 1976 | #336 | 658 | #4,935 | 6 |
| 1975 | #320 | 716 | — | |
| 1974 | #314 | 728 | #4,634 | 6 |
| 1973 | #312 | 746 | — | |
| 1972 | #332 | 691 | — | |
| 1971 | #332 | 785 | — | |
| 1970 | #348 | 726 | — | |
| 1969 | #337 | 707 | — | |
| 1968 | #322 | 730 | — | |
| 1967 | #314 | 761 | — | |
| 1966 | #290 | 869 | #3,948 | 5 |
| 1965 | #280 | 966 | #2,780 | 9 |
| 1964 | #285 | 1,025 | #3,282 | 7 |
| 1963 | #263 | 1,123 | — | |
| 1962 | #252 | 1,252 | #3,305 | 7 |
| 1961 | #237 | 1,317 | — | |
| 1960 | #234 | 1,361 | — | |
| 1959 | #234 | 1,356 | #3,290 | 7 |
| 1958 | #226 | 1,345 | #3,944 | 5 |
| 1957 | #217 | 1,480 | — | |
| 1956 | #209 | 1,510 | #2,628 | 10 |
| 1955 | #201 | 1,569 | #3,886 | 5 |
| 1954 | #193 | 1,633 | — | |
| 1953 | #192 | 1,613 | #3,143 | 7 |
| 1952 | #179 | 1,712 | — | |
| 1951 | #169 | 1,808 | — | |
| 1950 | #162 | 1,740 | #2,770 | 8 |
| 1949 | #161 | 1,793 | #2,802 | 8 |
| 1948 | #155 | 1,847 | — | |
| 1947 | #162 | 1,842 | #2,671 | 9 |
| 1946 | #151 | 1,778 | #2,919 | 7 |
| 1945 | #160 | 1,467 | #3,338 | 5 |
| 1944 | #152 | 1,612 | #2,195 | 11 |
| 1943 | #151 | 1,758 | #2,405 | 10 |
| 1942 | #142 | 1,832 | #2,268 | 11 |
| 1941 | #138 | 1,810 | #1,759 | 16 |
| 1940 | #131 | 1,900 | #1,802 | 15 |
| 1939 | #117 | 2,110 | #1,795 | 15 |
| 1938 | #120 | 2,132 | #1,439 | 22 |
| 1937 | #116 | 2,156 | #1,992 | 13 |
| 1936 | #107 | 2,253 | #1,801 | 15 |
| 1935 | #94 | 2,542 | #1,584 | 19 |
| 1934 | #91 | 2,579 | #1,608 | 19 |
| 1933 | #88 | 2,676 | #1,281 | 27 |
| 1932 | #82 | 2,959 | #1,651 | 19 |
| 1931 | #79 | 3,034 | #1,394 | 25 |
| 1930 | #77 | 3,350 | #1,559 | 22 |
| 1929 | #71 | 3,587 | #1,672 | 20 |
| 1928 | #66 | 4,096 | #1,353 | 29 |
| 1927 | #64 | 4,327 | #1,603 | 23 |
| 1926 | #62 | 4,453 | #1,720 | 20 |
| 1925 | #56 | 4,726 | #1,745 | 20 |
| 1924 | #51 | 5,258 | #2,132 | 15 |
| 1923 | #47 | 5,315 | #2,331 | 13 |
| 1922 | #44 | 5,474 | #1,695 | 21 |
| 1921 | #42 | 5,926 | #2,502 | 12 |
| 1920 | #39 | 6,068 | #1,966 | 17 |
| 1919 | #38 | 6,248 | #1,882 | 17 |
| 1918 | #38 | 6,574 | #2,165 | 14 |
| 1917 | #38 | 6,281 | #1,815 | 17 |
| 1916 | #34 | 6,421 | #1,335 | 26 |
| 1915 | #33 | 6,321 | #1,782 | 16 |
| 1914 | #35 | 4,654 | #1,687 | 14 |
| 1913 | #32 | 4,090 | #1,803 | 10 |
| 1912 | #33 | 3,569 | #1,137 | 17 |
| 1911 | #34 | 2,676 | #925 | 13 |
| 1910 | #38 | 2,378 | #981 | 11 |
| 1909 | #37 | 2,185 | #893 | 11 |
| 1908 | #36 | 2,187 | #1,021 | 8 |
| 1907 | #37 | 2,062 | #866 | 10 |
| 1906 | #33 | 2,065 | #1,253 | 5 |
| 1905 | #34 | 1,993 | #786 | 10 |
| 1904 | #32 | 1,957 | #1,205 | 5 |
| 1903 | #34 | 1,883 | #1,009 | 6 |
| 1902 | #35 | 1,833 | — | |
| 1901 | #33 | 1,844 | #683 | 10 |
| 1900 | #39 | 2,017 | #1,162 | 6 |
| 1899 | #29 | 1,823 | — | |
| 1898 | #31 | 2,047 | #885 | 7 |
| 1897 | #28 | 1,911 | #852 | 7 |
| 1896 | #27 | 1,964 | #982 | 6 |
| 1895 | #31 | 1,803 | #501 | 16 |
| 1894 | #36 | 1,654 | #857 | 7 |
| 1893 | #39 | 1,382 | #1,035 | 5 |
| 1892 | #67 | 824 | #1,066 | 5 |
| 1891 | #66 | 710 | — | |
| 1890 | #75 | 619 | #884 | 6 |
| 1889 | #75 | 553 | — | |
| 1888 | #77 | 572 | — | |
| 1887 | #79 | 431 | — | |
| 1886 | #85 | 396 | — | |
| 1885 | #92 | 320 | — | |
| 1884 | #99 | 291 | — | |
| 1883 | #99 | 260 | — | |
| 1882 | #97 | 266 | — | |
| 1881 | #105 | 189 | — | |
| 1880 | #104 | 198 | — | |
First appearance
1880
In the first year the SSA published name data, Esther was already there! It came in at #104, and was given to 198 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1883, when fewer than 270 girls a year got the name.
Where Esther is popular in 1997
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- New York#79 · 1 in 414
- Maryland#207 · 1 in 1,028
- New Jersey#210 · 1 in 1,129
- Pennsylvania#233 · 1 in 1,240
- Wisconsin#239 · 1 in 1,251
Best ever in a state: #6 in North Dakota, 1915.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | #79 | 244 | 1 in 414 |
| Maryland | #207 | 23 | 1 in 1,028 |
| New Jersey | #210 | 37 | 1 in 1,129 |
| Pennsylvania | #233 | 47 | 1 in 1,240 |
| Wisconsin | #239 | 20 | 1 in 1,251 |
| California | #246 | 178 | 1 in 1,252 |
| Oregon | #268 | 13 | 1 in 1,241 |
| Nevada | #283 | 7 | 1 in 1,221 |
| Washington | #284 | 21 | 1 in 1,363 |
| Indiana | #308 | 18 | 1 in 1,822 |
| Texas | #325 | 78 | 1 in 1,793 |
| Kansas | #338 | 7 | 1 in 1,777 |
| Utah | #353 | 9 | 1 in 1,731 |
| Ohio | #372 | 26 | 1 in 2,378 |
| Florida | #387 | 32 | 1 in 2,292 |
| Missouri | #394 | 12 | 1 in 2,460 |
| Minnesota | #436 | 9 | 1 in 2,775 |
| Michigan | #447 | 18 | 1 in 2,887 |
| Virginia | #462 | 11 | 1 in 3,023 |
| Kentucky | #472 | 6 | 1 in 3,293 |
| North Carolina | #499 | 12 | 1 in 3,338 |
| Georgia | #539 | 12 | 1 in 3,564 |
| Massachusetts | #549 | 7 | 1 in 4,543 |
| Arizona | #566 | 9 | 1 in 3,120 |
| Illinois | #571 | 19 | 1 in 3,680 |
| Tennessee | #591 | 7 | 1 in 4,201 |
| Alabama | — | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Esther
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
- 11 spots since 2024 (#130 → #119)
- 29 spots since 2020 (#148 → #119)
- 84 spots since 2015 (#203 → #119)
- Biggest jump: 30 spots in 2001 (#323 → #293)
- Biggest drop: 24 spots in 1967 (#290 → #314)
Rise & fade · girls
16 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1896 at #27 (1,964 births)
- Births halved by 1965, 69 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 54 yrs
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 54 yrs · run 1882–1935
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 121
- Highest: 1 in 121 girls born in 1896 were named Esther (0.83%)
- Latest: 1 in 706 girls born in 2025 (0.14%)
Era · girls
The 1920s
- 18.2% of all girls named Esther (49,230) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,476 | #75 (1889) | #91 |
| 1890s | 14,737 | #27 (1896) | #43 |
| 1900s | 20,026 | #32 (1904) | #35 |
| 1910s | 49,212 | #32 (1913) | #35 |
| 1920s | 49,230 | #39 (1920) | #54 |
| 1930s | 25,791 | #77 (1930) | #97 |
| 1940s | 17,639 | #131 (1940) | #150 |
| 1950s | 15,766 | #162 (1950) | #198 |
| 1960s | 10,111 | #234 (1960) | #281 |
| 1970s | 7,299 | #310 (1977) | #324 |
| 1980s | 8,819 | #267 (1982) | #280 |
| 1990s | 9,415 | #283 (1990) | #302 |
| 2000s | 11,488 | #260 (2009) | #285 |
| 2010s | 15,935 | #151 (2018) | #202 |
| 2020s | 12,290 | #119 (2025) | #138 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Esther in 1997
girls
#315
935 births · 1 in 1,862 girls
Top girls' names in 1997
More about 1997
girls
1,740,710 girls got a published name in 1997; 1 in 1,862 of them was named Esther, which outranked 98.1% of the 16,163 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 11.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Esther
Biggest movers since 1996
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.