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I heard of this name about 7 years ago and I have not heard it again until this twilight series stuff. It's not even in the top 1000 in the US so I don't understand why people think it's trendy. Maybe on the message boards it's mentioned in excess but this is not reality. The numbers just don't say trendy to me.

I've never been a fan of it; something about it just doesn't appeal to me at all. I'm not sure whether it is the way it sounds, spells or what, but I just don't see myself liking it.

I love it despite it being overexposed. Unfortunately my brain insists on the pronunciation ez-mee even though I know that's not right, and while I like that better than ez-meh it bothers me to knowingly pronounce names wrong.

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I tend to shy away from trendy names, and Esme is definitely trendy, but I'm still tempted to use it, probably because of Esme (Esmerelda) Weatherwax from the Discworld series who is all kinds of awesome.

Yes I love this name! Very different and I have only ever known one esme and she is fab!!

Yes, I do like it a lot. I just think it's sweet but strong and I'm fond of the "Mae" sound to it. I seem to like a lot of girl names that begin with E for some reason.

I love Esme, i love the sound of it :)

It's got a middle-aged to elderly to moribund image here in South Africa; plus, there was a stage and screen actress called Esme who could actually act rather well but sank happily enough into a syrupy trough of uber-sentimental radio programmes of tips for housewives, messages of comfort for the hospitalised etc; she followed this up by advertising enzyme-active detergent on TV, and Esme's enzymes are, alas, all too memorable. A large lady, with black(ened) Marge Simpson hair, face too plump for wrinkles, shrewd pointy nose. Not good!

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And yet. One of the finest teachers I've ever known, and one of the nicest human beings in general, was an Esme ... though she wasn't ... her name was Esther but she was never called anything but Esme, which is a tribute and a half. In her honour, and given enough daughters (which one never is) I'd use it with delight, but only as a mn.

It's alright. It does have a faddish/fashionable aura about it, along the same lines as names like Adele and Thora - "sweet antique" names, fanciful and Euro-sounding but also conservative, like they're after someone's grandma. I've encountered 2 toddler-aged kids named Esme (not sure about spelling) and it seems plenty normal enough. My daughter's name is vaguely in the same category, although it's rarer. I think I'd probably let Twilight stop me if I was considering using Esme, but I'm just that way ... it doesn't really matter. I never considered it because I feel like the sound of it is just sort of awkward in my mouth.

It's dead behind the eyes.

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dislike

You know how sometimes you have a friend that's fun to be with and that you can talk to easily and is a pretty solid person? Except there's one thing about them you can't stand, like they have an annoying laugh or some favorite article of clothing that you think is heinous and embarrassing? But otherwise you like them a lot?

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If the Opinions Board was that friend, Esme would be that thing. It just rankles me that I have to see it so often. But it's otherwise pretty cool so it's better to bite your tongue and take the good with the bad.

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It's a combination of things that make me dislike Esme: the sound, the look, how Twilight has primed it for the "I liked it before Twilight" kinds of comments I hate so much, whatever else. The sense I get from it is of being bratty and empty.

Nope.

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There are actually very few names that I dislike as much as I dislike Esme. The only one that comes close is Clara.

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Both remind me of a spoiled brat from a hundred years ago. They grate on my ears and I cannot help picture a sniveling, overly annoying, obsequious 8 year old.

I like it, with or without the accent. It sounds very elegant, but short and sweet at the same time. Something about the "s" sound combined with "may" at the end appeals to me.

I just posted a message about this name, I was so set on Esme Caroline for our new daughter due in 7 weeks until I heard it was a character in the twilight series and now reading what other people say about it I am totally discouraged. It was gonna be her name 100% until this, so I have to start over, bummer.

I personally love it.

No, I never liked this name. I've said this many times before, but it reminds me of green mucus. It just gives me a gross image.

I don't dislike it, but I don't really like it either.

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This is one of those names where I seem to get a very different vibe than most people. It makes me picture a hard-hearted Southern woman with a gravelly chain-smoker's voice. I'm not sure why.

I liked Esme intensely during a period spanning a few months in the spring of 2009, however, the affection I once had for the name waned precipitously after overexposure to it on this board. Someone else also once said on this board that it made them envision a sort of bubbling mucus. That image unfortunately stuck with me permanently. It is not a name that I dislike now, but I would never use it myself. It does yield a number of enchanting combos though, such as my favorite, Esme Genevieve.

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I like it spelled Esme, with no accent. I am not sure why.

This message was edited 5/11/2010, 2:48 PM

I was born and raised in the U.S. But my parents are from the UK and Ireland. So I watched a lot of public television / BBC growing up and love that style. Esme / Esmee is French in origin of course. But I think of it as Brit-chic.

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I love the "ez" sound and how much bang it packs for such a small name. It's delicate, yet powerful at the same time. Another similar name that I love like that is Elvy / Elvie.

I like it, its such a bright name. I have an Auntie Esme who is actually a best friend of my grandfather and she is a beautiful woman who I love dearly so I have a good association with it.

I do like it. I like the "ezzzzzzzz" sound, it makes me think of a gorgeous fuzzy bumblebee in flowers. The "may" sound at the end gives it such a delicious light-purple summery feel.

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I also like Edmee because it has a similar-yet-different feel. Edmee's not as buzzy-busy, but it's just as charming and and not as well known.