Given name & surname
Esma
“resembling a prized emerald”
Esma is a variant of Esmeralda. One Spanish interpretation is “resembling a prized emerald.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Esma is a variant of Esmeralda. One Spanish interpretation is “resembling a prized emerald.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Esma is a variant of Esmeralda. An origin associated with Esmeralda is Spanish.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From Ottoman Turkish اسما, from Arabic أَسْمَاء (“names”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Esma through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 915
- 0 boys · 915 girls
- Most popular year
- 2019
- 39 babies
- 2025
- 24
- #5,293 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +9%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 24 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,293 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 39 in 2019. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 928 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Esma
- Esma RedžepovaMacedonian-Romani singer, songwriter and humanitarian (1943-2016)
- Asma bint Marwanpoet of the Ummayad clan
- Esma AgolliAlbanian actress (1928-2010)
- Esma Sultandaughter of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid I (1778–1848)
- Esma SultanOttoman princess, daughter of Ahmed III1726–1788
- Esma AydemirTurkish athlete (born 1992)
- Esma SultanOttoman princess, daughter of Sultan Abdülaziz (1873–1899)
- Esma CannonAustralian-born British actress (1905-1972)
- Essma Ben HamidaTunisian schoolteacher, journalist and entrepreneurborn 1951
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Esma, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Esme
“one who is esteemed”
>99% girls
Alaya
Alaya is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Eliza
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Elora
“God is my light”
>99% girls
Evelynn
“a birdlike woman” · “a birdlike man”
>99% girls
Arya
“one who is noble and honored”
2% boys · 98% girls
Gemma
“gem, jewel” · “as precious as a jewel”
>99% girls
Elaina
“the shining light”
>99% girls