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Esmeralda

Girl name · 8 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Esmeralda: 8 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2020.

Esmeralda is a Spanish and Portuguese name meaning "emerald," derived from the Greek *smaragdos* through the Latin *smaragdus*—a gemstone long associated with rebirth, love, and fortune. The most famous bearer is the passionate Romani heroine of Victor Hugo’s *The Hunchback of Notre-Dame*, whose name became synonymous with resilience and grace. Though no major place shares the name directly, the emerald's deep green hue has inspired countless place names (such as the Emerald Isle). The name’s popularity in Scotland has been modest but steady, perhaps thanks to its romantic, literary associations or its connection to the gemstone, which is also the birthstone for May. A notable variant is Esmeralda's diminutive, Esme, which has enjoyed its own quiet popularity in the UK.

Girl 2 of 52 years

Peak year
20204 babies
Latest (2024)
#6384 babies
Total births
8since 2020
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2020 · 4
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).