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Esmay

Girl name · 4 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Esmay: 4 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2019.

An elegant name, Esmay is a Scottish variant of Esmé, which comes from the Old French *esmer*, meaning 'to esteem' or 'to love', so it essentially conveys 'beloved' or 'esteemed'. Its popularity in Scotland was notably boosted by the historical figure Esmé Stewart, a French-born nobleman who became the 1st Duke of Lennox and a favourite of King James VI in the 16th century. While no major towns carry the name directly, the root meaning is shared with the placename Esmedune, an old English name for a beloved hill. A fascinating correlation: the name, long considered feminine in Scotland, originally belonged to a male bearer, making its gender switch one of the more notable in naming history.