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The short answer
Esther is a feminine name from the Hebrew ʾEsṯer, which Behind the Name says "possibly means 'star' in Persian", or alternatively derives from the name of the Near Eastern goddess Ishtar. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells of Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the king of Persia, who revealed her ancestry and thwarted the advisor Haman's plot to exterminate the Jews; her original Hebrew name was Hadassah, "myrtle tree". The name has been used in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation, sometimes as Hester, and Behind the Name notes a boost in America after the birth of Esther Cleveland (1893-1980), daughter of President Grover Cleveland. It ranked #119 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name offers two possibilities. Esther is "from the Hebrew name אֶסְתֵר (ʾEsṯer), which possibly means 'star' in Persian. Alternatively it could be a derivative of the name of the Near Eastern goddess Ishtar." The root is given as ʿṯtr. The biblical story follows: Queen Esther, Jewish wife of the Persian king, was warned by her cousin Mordecai of Haman's plan to kill the realm's Jews, revealed her ancestry and persuaded the king to execute Haman instead. Her original Hebrew name was Hadassah, which Behind the Name's Hadassah entry glosses as "myrtle tree". Behind the Name records the name's English use since the Protestant Reformation, the alternative Latin form Hester, and the American boost after the birth of Esther Cleveland (1893-1980).
Editorial confidence: disputed
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | ʾEsṯer (אֶסְתֵר) | possibly 'star' (Persian) or a derivative of Ishtar |
| Semitic | ʿṯtr | root given by Behind the Name for the Ishtar derivation, not glossed in the entry |
| Hebrew | Hadassah (הֲדַס, haḏas) | myrtle tree; Queen Esther's original Hebrew name (per the Hadassah entry) |
Competing or overlapping origins
- Persian: possibly meaning "star" (Behind the Name, marked 'possibly').
- Derivative of the name of the Near Eastern goddess Ishtar (Behind the Name, marked 'alternatively').
Popularity
Esther ranked #119 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name records use in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation and a rise in America after the 1893 birth of Esther Cleveland; no rank figures for those periods are included in this draft.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #119 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Essie, Esta, Estee
Variants: Ester, Hester, Eszter, Estera, Estere, Esfir
Related names: Hadassah, Esti, Eszti, Esteri, Essi
What the name feels like
Esther is a two-syllable biblical classic with a firm, old-fashioned dignity. It reads as a heritage name, quietly distinguished rather than showy, and the story of its royal bearer gives it a note of courage that many parents find appealing.
Style tags: biblical, classic, queen's name, two syllables, vintage
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. The two candidate etymologies, the biblical story and the usage history are Behind the Name's; the characterisation of the name as 'dignified' or 'courageous' is opinion.
If you like this name
Names that share Esther's biblical weight, its sound, or its vintage classic style (editorial suggestions).
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Esther mean?
The meaning is not settled. Behind the Name says Esther possibly means "star" in Persian, or alternatively derives from the name of the Near Eastern goddess Ishtar.
Who was Esther in the Bible?
Queen Esther, in the Book of Esther, was the Jewish wife of the king of Persia. Warned by her cousin Mordecai of Haman's plot to kill the Jews, she revealed her ancestry and persuaded the king to execute Haman instead. Her original Hebrew name was Hadassah.
Is Esther a popular name?
Esther ranked #119 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Esther — supports etymology and competing origins, biblical story, usage history, Esther Cleveland, variants, diminutives.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Hadassah — supports gloss of Hadassah, 'myrtle tree'.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
