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HelpEsme and all her variants.
I recently did a huge poll (https://www.behindthename.com/polls/353594) on Esme et al, which got a decent response. But I don't think I can do as much with the results as I'd like, because I couldn't filter for spelling / accent preferences, or whether Esme is feminine or masculine, based on culture. What I want is likely best gleaned from a post, not a poll.
So... Esme, huh?
How do you read and pronounce Esme? Does an accent mark (Esmé) affect the pronunciation? And do you prefer Esme / Esmé or Esmee / Esmée, or some other variant (like Esmae or Esmay)?
Do you even like Esme?
Also, where are you from? I want to gauge if there are clear differences based on culture / nationality.
Edit: Thank you to everyone who has commented so far! Out of I think 8 comments from all over the world, everyone uses the long-A pronunciation (or in the case of Spain, es-MEH). What I'm gathering is that it's really only the U.K. - perhaps just England - that uses the long-E pronunciation.
***
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
hwww.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
http://greens-end.myminicity.com/ind
So... Esme, huh?
How do you read and pronounce Esme? Does an accent mark (Esmé) affect the pronunciation? And do you prefer Esme / Esmé or Esmee / Esmée, or some other variant (like Esmae or Esmay)?
Do you even like Esme?
Also, where are you from? I want to gauge if there are clear differences based on culture / nationality.
Edit: Thank you to everyone who has commented so far! Out of I think 8 comments from all over the world, everyone uses the long-A pronunciation (or in the case of Spain, es-MEH). What I'm gathering is that it's really only the U.K. - perhaps just England - that uses the long-E pronunciation.
***
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
hwww.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
http://greens-end.myminicity.com/ind
This message was edited 9/14/2021, 6:15 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I love Esmé. It's a warm, dusty pink colour. I pronounce it EHS-may, regardless of the spelling. Esmé > Esmée > Esme > Esmee > Esmae. I'm from Poland.
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I only like Esmée. Pronounced es-MEH (long EH) but ez-MAY is okay for English speakers too.
I dislike Esmé it looks incomplete for a girl. I find it too feminine now to consider it for a boy, but Esmé is technically masculine.
Anything without the accent looks misspelled to me and then the name gets more of a trendy-sickly-sweet image.
It is also very very Twilight, even though the name has a longer history.
I am French/German.
I dislike Esmé it looks incomplete for a girl. I find it too feminine now to consider it for a boy, but Esmé is technically masculine.
Anything without the accent looks misspelled to me and then the name gets more of a trendy-sickly-sweet image.
It is also very very Twilight, even though the name has a longer history.
I am French/German.
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I really like the name Esme. I'm from Spain and we say "Es-meh". Personally I don't like other variations of the name, better only Esme, though as a nickname could be okay. For example, Esmeralda (Emerald in English).
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I don't like it, definitely female, I'm from Australia, only spelt Esme, prounced EZ may
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es-MEH.
I don't think an accent mark changes the pronunciation, it goes without saying, like Desiree / Désirée. However, a small portion of the people might pronounce it like ES-meh / ES-may.
I like Esmé (M, since it's gramatically masculine), Esmée (F) and "Anglicised" Esmay (F).
I'm from Spain.
I don't think an accent mark changes the pronunciation, it goes without saying, like Desiree / Désirée. However, a small portion of the people might pronounce it like ES-meh / ES-may.
I like Esmé (M, since it's gramatically masculine), Esmée (F) and "Anglicised" Esmay (F).
I'm from Spain.
This message was edited 9/14/2021, 12:29 PM
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Here in South Africa, Esme is spelt like that: one e, no diacrital. And it is always, always feminine, and always pronounced EZmay.
It's a family name, and also the name of one of the best teachers I've ever had, so I've got many positive associations with it. I'd use it as a mn quite willingly.
In general, South Africans used to be pretty bad at French: the European language most frequently taught in schools was traditionally German. This is changing, and perhaps future generations will give Esme an Esmée makeover, though Desiree is seldom if ever Desirée here.
It's a family name, and also the name of one of the best teachers I've ever had, so I've got many positive associations with it. I'd use it as a mn quite willingly.
In general, South Africans used to be pretty bad at French: the European language most frequently taught in schools was traditionally German. This is changing, and perhaps future generations will give Esme an Esmée makeover, though Desiree is seldom if ever Desirée here.
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I don’t like Esme, it’s old and dusty, like sheets over furniture that have been unused for decades in a big, creaky house. Ghostly, but not in a cool way.
I pronounce it es-may, the different spellings & accents don’t affect how I pronounce it, it’s always es-may. If I had to choose I’d probably go with Esmée.
I’m from the US.
ETA: I only view it as feminine.
I pronounce it es-may, the different spellings & accents don’t affect how I pronounce it, it’s always es-may. If I had to choose I’d probably go with Esmée.
I’m from the US.
ETA: I only view it as feminine.
This message was edited 9/14/2021, 9:56 AM
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Esme is pretty and soft. I like the Esme spelling best and prefer it for women. The accent mark (Esmé) provides clarity regarding the pronunciation, but I think the name is familiar enough in the USA that the accent mark isn't generally needed.
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