Esmeralda Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Esmeralda is of Spanish origin, meaning 'emerald,' derived from the Latin word 'smaragdus.' The name evolved through historical forms, indicating its association with precious stones. It carries traits of beauty and uniqueness, with no direct biblical relevance. Esmeralda became popular in the 19th century through literature and continues to evoke an image of romance and nature.
The name Esmeralda is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Esmeralda has been too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Esmeralda' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6498th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6058th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13418th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3900th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2164th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 965th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 556th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 437th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 217th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 376th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Esmeralda' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Esmeralda"
Pronunciation
/ˌɛzməˈrɑːldə/
Origin
Spanish
Etymology
The name Esmeralda is derived from the Spanish word for 'emerald,' which refers to the green gemstone. The term itself comes from the Latin 'smaragdus,' which means 'emerald.'
Meaning
Emerald
Language Evolution
Smaragdus (Latin), Esmeralda (Spanish)
Historical Usage
Esmeralda gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century, particularly due to the influence of literature, such as Victor Hugo's 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,' where the character Esmeralda is a prominent figure.
Variants & Derivatives
Esme, Emerald, Esmer
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Esmeralda is perceived as a romantic and exotic name, often associated with beauty and nature due to its meaning related to the precious gemstone.
Famous People
Esmeralda Santiago, a Puerto Rican author, Esmeralda, a character in 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'
Explore More Esmeralda Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Esmeralda"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Esmeralda"
"Esmeralda" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6498th of 10718 | 34 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6058th of 16616 | 103 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 13418th of 24088 | 43 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3900th of 9107 | 98 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2164th of 9204 | 281 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 965th of 12526 | 2,108 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 556th of 19264 | 5,211 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 437th of 27321 | 8,918 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 217th of 35406 | 24,108 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 376th of 30306 | 10,019 |
Regional Popularity of "Esmeralda" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
56.72% 2946th/5194 |
47.51% 3001st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Esmeralda" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
93.32% 2208th/2366 |
100.00% 1142nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
44.03% 1036th/2353 |
84.16% 1302nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
77.37% 1723rd/2227 |
80.45% 1955th/2430 |
19.14% 546th/2853 |
39.89% 1107th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
30.10% 884th/2937 |
32.96% 1148th/3483 |
12.00% 422nd/3518 |
9.79% 396th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
23.18% 854th/3685 |
26.08% 1167th/4475 |
8.78% 456th/5194 |
3.66% 231st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
8.32% 381st/4582 |
10.34% 534th/5164 |
3.43% 251st/7313 |
1.53% 114th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.43% 535th/3984 |
14.46% 649th/4487 |
6.79% 463rd/6822 |
3.12% 196th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Esmeralda"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Esmeralda" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.