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HelpRe: Esme/Esmee?
in reply to a message by Victoria
I don't know why it's becoming popular. Maybe it's riding off its vague similarity to Emma and Emily? Also, the AY sound, which Esmé/Esmée has amongst English-speakers, is trendy now too--witness Ava, May, etc.
Esmé in particular might also be getting a boost from the boy's-names-on-girls trend, since it's the original French male spelling of the name, like René and Aimé; see also the first known bearer of the name, Esmé Stuart/Stewart, 1st Duke and 1st Earl of Lennox, who was born in Paris and whose mother was French: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esm%C3%A9_Stewart%2C_1st_Duke_of_Lennox. Esmée's the proper feminine form, akin to Renée and Aimée.
Esmé in particular might also be getting a boost from the boy's-names-on-girls trend, since it's the original French male spelling of the name, like René and Aimé; see also the first known bearer of the name, Esmé Stuart/Stewart, 1st Duke and 1st Earl of Lennox, who was born in Paris and whose mother was French: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esm%C3%A9_Stewart%2C_1st_Duke_of_Lennox. Esmée's the proper feminine form, akin to Renée and Aimée.
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The boys name on girls name thing
I disagree with. Esme has been used on girls for a long time. My Papa's best friend, my Auntie Esme is 78 and she was named after her Aunt, Esme.
To me, Esme is in the same category as Meredith. Originally a masculine name, but long established and perfectly okay on a girl.
I disagree with. Esme has been used on girls for a long time. My Papa's best friend, my Auntie Esme is 78 and she was named after her Aunt, Esme.
To me, Esme is in the same category as Meredith. Originally a masculine name, but long established and perfectly okay on a girl.
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Esmé in particular might also be getting a boost from the boy's-names-on-girls trend,
Seems unlikely to me. In my experience, Esme(e) hasn't been popular enough for a lot of people (or at least people in the areas in which I've lived) to even realize that there's a masculine form of the name. Since Esmee doesn't have nearly the recognizability of Renee, a lot of people don't immediately connect the two E's to the "ay" sound and thus would find it more logical to spell it with just one.
Barring that, everyone might just be Salinger fans.
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Seems unlikely to me. In my experience, Esme(e) hasn't been popular enough for a lot of people (or at least people in the areas in which I've lived) to even realize that there's a masculine form of the name. Since Esmee doesn't have nearly the recognizability of Renee, a lot of people don't immediately connect the two E's to the "ay" sound and thus would find it more logical to spell it with just one.
Barring that, everyone might just be Salinger fans.
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Probably the similarity with Emma/emily. Thanks.
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