Message: "The name "ESAI"" - Behind the Name

[Facts] The name "ESAI"

by Nancy (guest)

2/18/2002, 6:25 PM

Hi all,
I have come across an actor's name (mexican/american I think, the "bad brother" from the movie "La Bamba") with the name ESAI, last name Morales. I like ESAI but can't seem to find anything on the name. Can you help? Ta

#Esai

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- Agata (guest)

2/19/2002, 2:58 PM

Isn't ESAI the original word for ESSAY which means "a try" ?

- Daividh (guest) +8

2/18/2002, 9:37 PM

A very uncommon name, it seems. Esai would seem to be a shortened form of Esaias, which is an older (in English) form of the Biblical prophet's name Isaiah. The abbreviation for the Book of Isaiah was often Esai. in older (16th-17th cent.) English texts.

I didn't see the form Esai occurring in Spanish texts of the Bible, but might have missed it.

- Da.

- Sarahjeanne (guest) +5

2/19/2002, 9:39 AM

Could it also be a variant of the name Esau? Wasn't that the name of Jacob'c brother? Just a thought. I really don't have a clue, they are just similar.

- Daividh (guest) +4

2/19/2002, 6:40 PM

SJ,

"Esau" was my first hunch as well, but Esau in the Spanish bible is "Esau". Another site suggested, without much conviction, that Esai might be a variant of Jesse. But Esai is not in Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary (the definitive work on Biblical names), and Jesse in the Spanish bible is "Jese".

Three 16th century English bibles I referenced (love that 'Net!) use the name Esai (2) or Esay (1) for "Isaiah", so I'm pretty sure that's the derivation. How a Puerto Rican kid named Morales got the name is anyone's guess, but he WAS born in NYC...

- Da.

- Sarahjeanne (guest) +3

2/20/2002, 8:13 AM

Thanks Davidh. Just had a hunch. Glad to see that I wasn't the only one who thought that way. :)

- kerama (guest) +2

2/22/2002, 9:01 PM

Yes I also heard that the name means Isaiah. I've been looking for more confirmation on this, thanks for the info. Do you also know what the intended pronunciation is? I believe it is 'e-sigh' - any insight?

- Nancy (guest) +1

2/24/2002, 6:04 PM

Good question, how do you pronounce ESAI?

- Priscilla (guest)

6/28/2002, 7:58 AM

I just asked the Esai Morales unofficial fan club web page and they say he pronounces it EE-SIGH.

Oops -- and I named my Chihuahua puppy Esai but pronounced it EE-SAY. Too late now -- the dog knows his name.

- Nancy (guest) +1

2/18/2002, 10:39 PM

Interesting stuff....

Thanks very much for your help!

:-D

Nancy
(From downunder)

- Esai (guest)

4/17/2024, 7:34 PM

Good evening Nancy, my name is Esai Ramirez. Funny enough I was born in September 2002 around the time you made your post. I think my parents also were inspired by Esai Morales, though honestly I've always hated the name. Hated the uniqueness and the fact my white friends can't spell it. Anyways i just came across this threat trying to research my name and wanted to remind you you're important and still have an impact 22 years after posting!

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