Esther Williams
American swimmer and Hollywood "Million Dollar Mermaid"
Girl Old Testament Known
Esther
secret; hidden
אֶסְתֵּר es.ter
Esther (Hebrew: אֶסְתֵּר, es.ter) means “secret; hidden”, by traditional interpretation. It belongs to one woman who carries two names in the text — she is also called Hadassah. In 2025 it was given to 2,277 children in the United States, ranking 119. Use is rising. Around 272,206 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Abihail in Esther 9.
Merged person graphTIPNR + BibleData
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Esther
son of Abihail
TIPNR + BibleDataSSA · public domain
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
Concordance Depth Index
79.3 · rank 123
US usage today
rank 119 · 2,277 births in 2025
TIPNR + BibleDataSTEPBible · CC BY
At a glance
- Verses
- 45 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Second Temple
Merged person graph45 verse pairs
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Esther 2:7 |
| Last appears | Esther 9:32 |
| Two names, one person | Esther/Hadassah |
| Cross-references | 404 linked passages |
SSA · public domainBirths in year
Using it today
Very unlikely to share a classroom with another.
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 2,277 | Rising |
| All-time total | 272,206 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 6,588 in 1918 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | NY | Highest share relative to births |
SSA · public domainibge_censoine_es_edad_mediaIRN PT
The same name elsewhere
| Country | Form | Standing | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Esther | rank 119 · 2,277 in 2025 | Births in year |
| Brazil | ESTER | 100,378 bearers · born 1930–2010 | Living residents |
| Spain | ESTER | 21,133 bearers · mean age 43.7 | Living residents |
| Portugal | Estér | permitted | IRN approved list |
Two different questions are shown here. Rows marked births in year count children registered during a period; rows marked living residents count people of every age alive at a census. They answer different questions and are never added together.
Computed · A2/A3Rationale generated
Names connected to this one
- Mordecai co-occurrence Appears with Mordecai in Esther 4.
- Haman co-occurrence Appears with Haman in Esther 8.
- Abihail co-occurrence Appears with Abihail in Esther 9.
- Hathach co-occurrence Appears with Hathach in Esther 4.
- Hegai co-occurrence Appears with Hegai in Esther 2.
- Ahasuerus co-occurrence Appears with Ahasuerus in Esther 8.
- Agag co-occurrence Appears with Agag in Esther 8.
- Bigthan co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Bigthan.
Origin & meaning
Strong's number
H0635
Hebrew
אֶסְתֵּר
Transliteration
es.ter
A woman living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Est.2.7;
daughter of: Abihail (H0032K); also called Hadassah at Est.2.7;
Also named: ha.das.sah (הֲדַסָּה "Hadassah" H1919)
§ Esther = "star"
the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther-daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin, made queen by king Ahasuerus to replace divorced queen, Vashti.
Esther, also known as Hadassah, was a Jewish queen of Persia who saved her people from genocide.
The biblical story
Esther, born Hadassah, was a Jewish woman who became the queen of Persia during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). She was an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai (Est.2.7). Esther was chosen to be queen after Ahasuerus deposed Queen Vashti (Est.2.17). When Haman, a high-ranking official, plotted to exterminate the Jews, Esther risked her life by approaching the king uninvited to expose Haman's plot (Esther 4-5). As a result, Haman was hanged, and the Jews were given the right to defend themselves, leading to their deliverance (Esther 7-8). Esther and Mordecai instituted the Feast of Purim to commemorate this event (Est.9.29-32). Her story exemplifies courage, faith, and God's providence in protecting His people.
Key verses
Esther appears in 45 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
Esther 2:7 -
So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
Esther 2:8 -
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
Esther 2:10 -
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
Esther 2:11 -
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
Esther 2:15
Show all 45 references
Esther (45)
- Esther 2:7
- Esther 2:8
- Esther 2:10
- Esther 2:11
- Esther 2:15
- Esther 2:16
- Esther 2:17
- Esther 2:18
- Esther 2:20
- Esther 2:22
- Esther 4:4
- Esther 4:5
- Esther 4:8
- Esther 4:9
- Esther 4:10
- Esther 4:12
- Esther 4:13
- Esther 4:15
- Esther 4:17
- Esther 5:1
- Esther 5:2
- Esther 5:3
- Esther 5:4
- Esther 5:5
- Esther 5:6
- Esther 5:7
- Esther 5:12
- Esther 6:14
- Esther 7:1
- Esther 7:2
- Esther 7:3
- Esther 7:5
- Esther 7:6
- Esther 7:7
- Esther 7:8
- Esther 8:1
- Esther 8:2
- Esther 8:3
- Esther 8:4
- Esther 8:7
- Esther 9:12
- Esther 9:13
- Esther 9:29
- Esther 9:31
- Esther 9:32
Name variants & nicknames
- Essie — nickname
- Etty — nickname
- Ester — Spanish & Portuguese
- Hadassah — her Hebrew name (Esther 2:7)
Notable people with this name
Esther Rolle
American actress (Good Times)