Ester
Girl name · #1571 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
Ester ranks #1571 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 134 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1839, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,433 girls born in 2025 was named Ester.
Babies named Ester per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 144-year story
Ester first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1925, when 281 girls were named Ester — good for #410 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Ester against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ester in class?
Ester scores 64 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 Ester is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ester is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Esters were NY (16), FL (14), TX (11), CA (9), NJ (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ester
Statistically, parents drawn to Ester tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Elinor, Petra, Effie, Leora, and Addie.
ElinorPetraEffieLeoraAddieEuniceJewelElvira
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ester | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 134 | #1570 |
| 2024 | 143 | #1509 |
| 2023 | 159 | #1407 |
| 2022 | 138 | #1548 |
| 2021 | 144 | #1484 |
| 2020 | 124 | #1654 |
| 2019 | 124 | #1687 |
| 2018 | 118 | #1741 |
| 2017 | 130 | #1655 |
| 2016 | 111 | #1857 |
| 2015 | 112 | #1839 |
| 2014 | 115 | #1781 |
| 2013 | 122 | #1705 |
| 2012 | 117 | #1760 |
| 2011 | 122 | #1708 |
| 2010 | 119 | #1747 |
| 2009 | 92 | #2165 |
| 2008 | 137 | #1642 |
| 2007 | 103 | #1988 |
| 2006 | 95 | #2069 |
| 2005 | 119 | #1668 |
| 2004 | 88 | #2067 |
| 2003 | 96 | #1896 |
| 2002 | 98 | #1821 |
| 2001 | 79 | #2096 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ester a popular girl name?
Ester ranked #1571 among girls in 2025 with 134 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1839.
When was the name Ester most popular?
Ester peaked in 1925, when 281 American girls received the name (ranked #410 that year). Since 1925 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ester?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,433 newborn American girls was named Ester. It scores 64/100 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.