Esther

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ORIGIN AND HISTORY

The origin of Esther is uncertain. The name could derive from the Persian "stara", meaning "star," or it could be a Hebrew form of the Persian goddess of love, Ishtar. ^[1] Others maintain that its source is Ester, a Hebrew name meaning "the myrtle tree" or "star". The name Esther might also simply be a translation of the related name Hadassah found in the Scriptures, which means "myrtle." ^[1]

POPULARITY

The name Esther has maintained its ranking in the top 350 names for females in the United States for the past thirty years. It ranked 305th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, and it was number 132 in a sample of the 1990 US Census. ^[1]

As a girl's name:

• 2006: Rank = 298
• 2005: Rank = 282
• 2004: Rank = 298
• 2003: Rank = 291
• 2002: Rank = 302
• 2001: Rank = 300
• 2000: Rank = 330
• 1999: Rank = 321^[1]

FACTS

In the book of Esther in the Old Testament, King Ahasuerus of Perisa banishes his queen Vashti because she fails to come when summoned. The search begins for a new queen, and a Jewish girl named Hadassah is among the candidates. To hide her heritage, her name is changed to Esther, and she is the one chosen to become queen. Learning of the minister Haman's intention to have the Jews slaughtered, she intervenes on behalf of her people at great risk to herself. The Jewish feast of Purim celebrates the event, and "Esther" is a symbolic name for girls born on the holiday.

NAMESAKES

• Estherville, Iowa
• Estherwood, Louisiana
• Mary Esther, Florida
• Esther Anderson - fictional character on the television sitcom Sanford and Son
• Esther "Grandma" Walton - fictional character on the television series The Waltons portrayed by Ellen Corby
• Esther Pokrifki - fictional character from the film An Officer and a Gentleman
• Esther Smith - fictional character from the film Meet Me in St. Louis
• Esther Summerson - fictional character in Bleak House by Charles Dickens

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Esther Hobart Morris (1812-1902) - first woman to hold a judicial position and a symbol of the women's rights movement
• Esther Peterson (b. 1906-1997) - American social activist, advocate for worker's rights, and a member of the National Women's Hall of Fame
• Esther Brand (b. 1924)- South African athlete and 1952 Olympic track and field gold medal winner for the high jump
• Esther Ralston (b. 1902-1994 ) American actress and leading lady during Hollywood's "silent age"
• Eshter Forbes (1891-1967) - American historian and novelist, 1944 Newberry Medal Winner for her book Johnny Tremain, and 1943 Pulitizer Prize winner for History for her book Paul Revere and the World He Lived In.
• Esther Bigeou (1895-1936) - Jazz artist and blues singer
• Esther Cañadas (b. 1977) - Spanish actress and supermodel

NOTES

OTHER ESTHER'S

Esther Aadland, Esther Aall, Esther Aar, Esther Aardsma, Esther Aaron, Esther Aars, Esther Abablos, Esther Abad, Esther Abadie, Esther Abady, Esther Abakan, Esther Abalo, Esther Abangma, Esther Abarca, Esther Abate, Esther Abayo, Esther Abbas, Esther Abbatiello, Esther Abbe, Esther Abbey, Esther Abbonizio, Esther Abbott, Esther Abboud, Esther Abbruzzese, Esther Abdel-hameed, Esther Abdelkader, Esther Abdulrahmaan, Esther Abe, Esther Abele, Esther Abeles, Esther Abelman, Esther Abelson, Esther Abeney, Esther Bardsley, Esther Aalbers, Esther Aarons, Esther Abadi, Esther Abakah, Esther Abalos, Esther Abanico, Esther Abarientos, Esther Abbs, Esther Abdul, Esther Abelar, Esther Abell, Esther Abella, Esther Abend, Esther Jackie, Esther Yaa, Esther Abeita, More results

Author: Samantha Bell