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Esa

Boy name · 20 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Esa: 20 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 7 births in 2025.

Esa is a short form of Esaias, the Finnish and Scandinavian version of Isaiah, which comes from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, meaning "God is salvation." Though rooted in the Nordic countries, the name has a clean, international feel that works well in Scotland. Among notable bearers, Esa-Pekka Salonen is the celebrated Finnish conductor and composer; Esa Tikkanen was a fiery NHL winger for the Edmonton Oilers dynasty. There are no major place connections, but the name shares its biblical root with the River Isla in Perthshire, whose Gaelic name derives from a different source. In Scotland, Esa remains rare—a crisp, modern alternative to longer biblical names, and its simplicity appeals to parents seeking something distinctive yet easy to pronounce.