Esther Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation

Esther means star (possibly). Hebrew name of the biblical queen, possibly linked to a Persian word for star.

Esther is the name of the Jewish queen of Persia in the Book of Esther, whose story is retold each year at Purim. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning myrtle, and Esther may come from a Persian word for star, though that link is not certain. English speakers adopted the name widely after the Reformation, and it has continued as a dignified, old-fashioned choice. The form Hester was common in earlier English and appears in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Short forms include Essie and Etty. The name has a quiet strength and gentle cadence.

Variants of Esther

EsterHesterEssieEsta

Well-known people named Esther

Esther Rantzen.

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