The name Esme is a girl's name of French, Persian origin meaning "beloved". Esmé comes from the past participle of the Old French verb esmer, meaing "to esteem" or "to love." It can also be considered a derivative of the Spanish name Esmeralda, which means "emerald".

Esme is a unisex name with French roots and means ‘esteemed’ or ‘loved.’ The name’s popularity is often attributed to Esmé Stewart, the 1st Duke of Lennox, a French nobleman of Scottish descent who spent a portion of his life in Scotland. Esme is also considered an Anglo-Saxon baby name, signifying a ‘kind defender.’