Hester

#14,942 for girls in 2025, 5 births · Last seen for boys in 1970 at #4,724
Given to girls 96.4% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1881 · 55 births
Debut · girls
49 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
14,227
since 1880

Hester over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Hester has never cracked the top 200 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201936peak #201, 1881girls
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
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#14,9425—
2024——
2023#15,1945—
2022——
2021——
2020——
2019#12,4487—
2018——
2017——
2016——
2015——
2014——
2013——
2012——
2011——
2010#16,9925—
2009#17,2945—
2008——
2007——
2006——
2005——
2004#16,0995—
2003——
2002——
2001——
2000#15,0315—
1999——
1998#14,1225—
1997——
1996#11,8076—
1995——
1994#10,5697—
1993#6,62213—
1992——
1991#9,3368—
1990#7,88010—
1989#7,44910—
1988#8,3918—
1987#4,47418—
1986#5,45913—
1985#5,07714—
1984#5,89911—
1983#4,88414—
1982#3,34425—
1981#3,34025—
1980#4,51716—
1979#2,93129—
1978#4,67914—
1977#4,06917—
1976#3,28721—
1975#3,25921—
1974#2,68327—
1973#2,50629—
1972#3,27619—
1971#2,47730—
1970#2,35432#4,7245
1969#2,64525—
1968#2,24629—
1967#2,32727—
1966#2,30827—
1965#2,83319—
1964#1,80342—
1963#1,68346—
1962#1,82639—
1961#1,64047—
1960#1,63747—
1959#1,39659—
1958#1,39558—
1957#1,35861—
1956#1,29864—
1955#1,11280#3,5056
1954#1,05786#3,8275
1953#1,00192#3,4256
1952#1,04681—
1951#1,09872—
1950#885101#3,6815
1949#872101#2,33711
1948#91091—
1947#829112#3,3706
1946#89387#2,9197
1945#749100#2,7437
1944#668123#2,4679
1943#660132#2,7328
1942#679120—
1941#655117#2,6568
1940#609132#1,98313
1939#623117—
1938#593136#1,90114
1937#615120#2,9057
1936#535148#2,30110
1935#552134#3,6455
1934#506160#1,60819
1933#509157#1,99713
1932#532153#1,99514
1931#472184#2,00314
1930#459214#2,29312
1929#444220#2,00215
1928#466218#3,3577
1927#428262#2,70310
1926#410274#2,30213
1925#378325#1,67921
1924#383317#2,34713
1923#335382#2,02016
1922#355340#2,48612
1921#362337#1,90418
1920#345362#1,88518
1919#335360#1,75219
1918#323394#2,26013
1917#329358#2,28012
1916#311378#1,41524
1915#310359#1,50521
1914#298309#2,2719
1913#284275#1,31116
1912#277265#1,8858
1911#272201#1,3877
1910#264212#1,1189
1909#268179#1,4405
1908#258184#1,2176
1907#276159#1,3455
1906#262158—
1905#260160—
1904#239169#1,0646
1903#250147—
1902#235164—
1901#229160#9436
1900#233183#9029
1899#224148#1,0515
1898#233158#1,1215
1897#237140—
1896#226150—
1895#212164—
1894#223143—
1893#203155#1,0355
1892#239122—
1891#238102—
1890#224119—
1889#221109—
1888#216113—
1887#22189—
1886#23676—
1885#21285—
1884#20585—
1883#20472—
1882#21463—
1881#20155—
1880#21949—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Hester was already there! It came in at #219, and was given to 49 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1992, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Hester is popular in 1936

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedMNIllinois: #560 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 10,108 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedWIMichigan: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedMINew York: #498 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 9,100 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedIAIndiana: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedINOhio: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedOHPennsylvania: #549 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 11,842 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedCTCalifornia: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedNEMissouri: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedMOKentucky: #298 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,339 girlsKYWest Virginia: #227 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,413 girlsWVVirginia: #374 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,547 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedKSArkansas: #413 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,460 girlsARTennessee: #310 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,641 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #290 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,376 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #265 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,815 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #404 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,413 girlsLAMississippi: #284 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,774 girlsMSAlabama: #397 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,050 girlsALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedHITexas: #790 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 9,149 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Hester, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. West Virginia#227 · 1 in 1,413
  2. South Carolina#265 · 1 in 1,815
  3. Mississippi#284 · 1 in 1,774
  4. North Carolina#290 · 1 in 2,376
  5. Kentucky#298 · 1 in 2,339

Best ever in a state: #128 in Florida, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
West Virginia#227131 in 1,413
South Carolina#265111 in 1,815
Mississippi#284121 in 1,774
North Carolina#290151 in 2,376
Kentucky#298111 in 2,339
Tennessee#310101 in 2,641
Virginia#37451 in 4,547
Alabama#39771 in 4,050
Louisiana#40461 in 3,413
Arkansas#41351 in 3,460
New York#49891 in 9,100
Pennsylvania#54961 in 11,842
Illinois#56051 in 10,108
Texas#79061 in 9,149
Alaska———
Arizona———
California———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Indiana———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Michigan———
Minnesota———
Missouri———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Ohio———
Oklahoma———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
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 Hester
Momentum · girls
Brand new
  • Biggest jump: 64 spots in 1947 (#893 → #829)
  • Biggest drop: 213 spots in 1951 (#885 → #1,098)
Rise & fade · girls
1 yr to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1881 at #201 (55 births)
  • Births halved by 1965, 84 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 71 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 71 yrs · run 1880–1950
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,374
  • Highest: 1 in 1,374 girls born in 1893 were named Hester (0.07%)
  • Latest: 1 in 321,453 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #201 in 1881, was only 1 in 1,672 (0.06%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1910s
  • 21.9% of all girls named Hester (3,111) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s796#201 (1881)#215
1890s1,401#203 (1893)#226
1900s1,663#229 (1901)#251
1910s3,111#264 (1910)#300
1920s3,037#335 (1923)#391
1930s1,523#459 (1930)#540
1940s1,115#609 (1940)#752
1950s754#885 (1950)#1,165
1960s348#1,637 (1960)#2,095
1970s239#2,354 (1970)#3,152
1980s154#3,340 (1981)#5,283
1990s49#6,622 (1993)#10,056
2000s15#15,031 (2000)#16,141
2010s12#12,448 (2019)#14,720
2020s10#14,942 (2025)#15,068

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.

Hester in 1936

girls
#535
148 births · 1 in 7,030 girls
boys
#2,301
10 births · 1 in 103,721 boys

Top girls' names in 1936

  1. #1Mary54,377
  2. #2Shirley35,161
  3. #3Barbara31,682
  4. #4Betty25,868
  5. #5Patricia23,916
  6. #6Dorothy17,666
  7. #7Joan17,072
  8. #8Nancy16,755
  9. #9Margaret14,596
  10. #10Carol14,520
  11. #535Hester148

Top boys' names in 1936

  1. #1Robert58,500
  2. #2James54,694
  3. #3John47,683
  4. #4William39,398
  5. #5Richard33,494
  6. #6Charles29,101
  7. #7Donald28,639
  8. #8Thomas18,342
  9. #9George18,197
  10. #10David17,476
  11. #2,301Hester10
More about 1936

girls

1,040,390 girls got a published name in 1936; 1 in 7,030 of them was named Hester, which outranked 89.0% of the 4,856 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Hester
  1. #530Reta150
  2. #533Ima149
  3. #533Sharron149
  4. #535Hester148
  5. #535Roslyn148
  6. #537Caryl147
  7. #538Eliza146
  8. #538Emilie146

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,238Shelba#3,742 → #504
  2. ↑ 662Shelby#840 → #178
  3. ↑ 600Wendy#1,418 → #818
  4. ↑ 588Deanna#1,356 → #768
  5. ↑ 546Shari#1,514 → #968
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,028Norita#713 → #1,741
  2. ↓ 506Vernetta#974 → #1,480
  3. ↓ 461Ozella#984 → #1,445
  4. ↓ 400Shirleyann#896 → #1,296
  5. ↓ 342Idell#925 → #1,267

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,037,205 boys got a published name in 1936; 1 in 103,721 of them was named Hester, which outranked 43.0% of the 4,037 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Hester
  1. #2,184Westley11
  2. #2,184Weyman11
  3. #2,184Windle11
  4. #2,301Hester10
  5. #2,301Abran10
  6. #2,301Alcide10
  7. #2,301Alson10
  8. #2,452Achille9
  9. #2,452Adelard9
  10. #2,452Alphonsus9

Tied with 150 names at #2,301; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 802Errol#1,708 → #906
  2. ↑ 644Sergio#1,584 → #940
  3. ↑ 601Brice#1,494 → #893
  4. ↑ 537Windell#1,390 → #853
  5. ↑ 529Kim#1,390 → #861
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,082Stafford#980 → #2,062
  2. ↓ 889Darwyn#750 → #1,639
  3. ↓ 461Hunter#956 → #1,417
  4. ↓ 399Orvil#844 → #1,243
  5. ↓ 370Rosendo#956 → #1,326

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1936 →