esme

Esme is a given name of French origin, used primarily as a feminine name in modern English and many other languages. It appears in variants such as Esmée and Esmé, and in unaccented English form as Esme or Esmee. The name derives from the Old French esmé, the past participle of estimer, meaning "esteemed" or "loved." Over time it has been used in various cultures and has occasionally appeared as a male name in earlier periods, though it is predominantly feminine today.

Notable people with the name include Esme Bianco, an American actress known for television and film; Esmée Denters, a Dutch singer and former pop artist; Esmé Creed-Miles, a British actor; and Esme Raji Codell, an American author and educator.

In fiction, Esme Cullen is a central character in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, where she is the matriarch of the Cullen family. Another fictional bearer is Esme Weatherwax, the given name of Granny Weatherwax in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.

The name Esme remains in common use in several countries, often associated with a gentle, elegant connotation stemming from its meaning and historical usage.