Esau
Boy name · #3184 in 2025 · Uniqueness 77/100
In 2025, 37 baby boys were named Esau, placing it at #3184 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2966, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 48,649 boys born in 2025 was named Esau.
Babies named Esau per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Esau first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 82 boys were named Esau — good for #1781 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Esau against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Esau in class?
Esau scores 77 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Esau will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Esau is most common
State-level data for Esau is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Esau
Statistically, parents drawn to Esau tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Elie, Evin, Edan, Eamonn, and Edvin.
ElieEvinEdanEamonnEdvinElyEduardAlen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Esau | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | #3181 |
| 2024 | 40 | #3045 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3474 |
| 2022 | 44 | #2873 |
| 2021 | 35 | #3297 |
| 2020 | 38 | #3025 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 37 | #3106 |
| 2017 | 25 | #4105 |
| 2016 | 48 | #2587 |
| 2015 | 39 | #2966 |
| 2014 | 41 | #2847 |
| 2013 | 35 | #3122 |
| 2012 | 47 | #2594 |
| 2011 | 47 | #2590 |
| 2010 | 57 | #2262 |
| 2009 | 59 | #2231 |
| 2008 | 72 | #1969 |
| 2007 | 82 | #1781 |
| 2006 | 73 | #1856 |
| 2005 | 63 | #1983 |
| 2004 | 63 | #1934 |
| 2003 | 55 | #2055 |
| 2002 | 46 | #2249 |
| 2001 | 58 | #1893 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Esau a popular boy name?
Esau ranked #3184 among boys in 2025 with 37 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2966.
When was the name Esau most popular?
Esau peaked in 2007, when 82 American boys received the name (ranked #1781 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Esau?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 48,649 newborn American boys was named Esau. It scores 77/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.