Esther

אֶסְתֵר

• Gender: Female
• Origin: Biblical English
• Meaning: star, fertility

• Esther is the courageous queen at the center of the Purim story, the young woman who concealed her Jewish identity in the Persian court and then revealed it at exactly the right moment to save her entire people. Her name may derive from the Persian word for "star" or from Ishtar, but in Jewish memory she is defined by her extraordinary bravery. It is a name that carries a legacy of quiet strength and perfectly timed courage.

  A major comeback is brewing, riding the same wave that brought vintage names like Eleanor and Josephine back to the top. The Purim story of courage and hidden identity feels especially resonant today, and the sophisticated sound ages beautifully from baby to bubbie. Esther is ready for her moment — and she has been preparing for it for about 2,500 years.

• Potential Sibling Name:
  Sarah
  ,
  Judith
  ,
  Jacob
  ,
  Reuben
• Theme: positive qualities