Essence
Girl name · #1166 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
In 2025, 199 baby girls were named Essence, placing it at #1166 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1464, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,045 girls born in 2025 was named Essence.
The 52-year story
Essence first appears in the Social Security records in 1973, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 565 girls were named Essence — good for #456 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.
Babies named Essence per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Essence against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Essence in class?
Essence scores 61 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Essence is most common
Geography matters for names, and Essence is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Essences were TX (26), FL (19), GA (14), NC (11), VA (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Essence
Statistically, parents drawn to Essence tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Patience, Yasmine, Justice, Emilie, and Emilee.
PatienceYasmineJusticeEmilieEmileeBryceKayceeMontana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Essence | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 199 | #1163 |
| 2024 | 228 | #1085 |
| 2023 | 250 | #1012 |
| 2022 | 256 | #1015 |
| 2021 | 149 | #1441 |
| 2020 | 186 | #1227 |
| 2019 | 149 | #1474 |
| 2018 | 155 | #1425 |
| 2017 | 148 | #1495 |
| 2016 | 136 | #1614 |
| 2015 | 157 | #1464 |
| 2014 | 189 | #1270 |
| 2013 | 201 | #1192 |
| 2012 | 225 | #1096 |
| 2011 | 245 | #1019 |
| 2010 | 247 | #1015 |
| 2009 | 263 | #1006 |
| 2008 | 274 | #977 |
| 2007 | 287 | #944 |
| 2006 | 320 | #838 |
| 2005 | 268 | #928 |
| 2004 | 308 | #813 |
| 2003 | 333 | #749 |
| 2002 | 273 | #846 |
| 2001 | 322 | #741 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Essence a popular girl name?
Essence ranked #1166 among girls in 2025 with 199 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1464.
When was the name Essence most popular?
Essence peaked in 1998, when 565 American girls received the name (ranked #456 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Essence?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,045 newborn American girls was named Essence. It scores 61/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.