Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Esmeralda

The name Esmeralda comes from the Spanish vocabulary word for ‘emerald.’ The name was used in 1831 by Victor Hugo in his novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and this helped to popularize the name among French and English speakers. Esmeralda was the nickname of his protagonist Agnes, a beautiful and kind-hearted gypsy dancer who is at the center of the story’s drama. She is the only character to display human compassion to the hideously hunchbacked cathedral bell-ringer Quasimodo. Her character is noble if not a bit naïve. And so lovely she had all the male characters swooning for her attentions. Like many dramatic heroines, Esmeralda meets a tragic fate, but her beauty, kindness, courage and fortitude made a lasting impression on Hugo’s readers. The name is mainly used by Spanish speakers but enjoys occasional use among many other ethnicities.

All About the Baby Name – Esmeralda

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME ESMERALDA

Romance is the hallmark of the Six personality. They exude nurturing, loving, and caring energy. Sixes are in love with the idea of love in its idealized form - and with their magnetic personalities, they easily draw people toward them. Like the number Two personality, they seek balance and harmony in their life and the world at large. They are conscientious and service-oriented, and a champion for the underdog. These personalities naturally attract money and are usually surrounded by lovely material objects - but their human relationships are always primary. They thrive in giving back to others rather than being motivated by their own desires. This is when they achieve great things. Sixes are natural teachers, ministers and counselors.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME ESMERALDA

Esmeralda first appeared on the U.S. popularity charts in 1951. She lurked in the shadows for a couple of decades and then started her slow and quiet ascent up the charts. The increased popularity of this lovely Spanish name is no doubt due to the growing Hispanic and Latino populations in the United States. Each decade since the 1960s, the Hispanic population has been growing by roughly 50% - and much of this population is concentrated in the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Not surprisingly, this is where Esmeralda has seen most of her success. However, like many other Spanish inspired names, Esmeralda is seeing a decline as we enter the 21st century. Regardless of the name’s Spanish roots, Esmeralda is definitely a cross-over name that’s off-beat but beautiful. Eccentric but interesting. This name is one part princess and two parts gypsy. Some say it has “old-lady” associations or “witch-like” meanings (think: the 1960s sitcom “Bewitched” wherein the mother witch is named Esmeralda). But this four-syllable name just simply takes our breath away. Cute nicknames or pet forms can include: Emma, Ezzie, Rella or Esme. It’s a “gem” of a name!

Quick Facts

ON ESMERALDA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

Spanish

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

4

RANKING POPULARITY:

392

PRONUNCIATION:

es-me-RAHL-dah

SIMPLE MEANING:

Emerald

Characteristics

OF ESMERALDA

Humanitarian

Community-minded

Family-oriented

Loving

Affectionate

Compassionate

Sensitive

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Esmeralda

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ESMERALDA

Agnes is the name of the baby stolen by gypsies, who replace her in her crib with the disfigured infant Quasimodo, in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Her mother flees Rheims in her grief, and the baby Quasimodo is sent to the orphanage at Notre Dame. In the meantime, having been renamed Esmeralda and happily raised by the gypsies, the baby Agnes grows up to live with them in Paris and earns a living as a dancer. She comes to the attention of the evil Frollo and is rescued from a fate worse than death by the kind-hearted Quasimodo. He, in turn is aided by her when he runs afoul of the law, but ultimately, they both succumb to a tragic end. The story has had many treatments, but perhaps it is the Walt Disney 1996 animated version that delights us most (and presents a happy ending). Esmeralda is as beautiful as ever, with her emerald green eyes, but she is perhaps a tad more independent and self-willed (voiced by Demi Moore). In this incarnation, both Esmeralda and Quasimodo are spared, he to come into the fruition of belief in his own self-worth, and she to a satisfying denouement in which she happily marries her true love, Captain Phoebus.

Esmeralda is the young girl (nee Agnes) who is stolen by gypsies as a baby, who replace her in her crib with the disfigured infant Quasimodo, in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Her mother flees Rheims in her grief, and the baby Quasimodo is sent to the orphanage at Notre Dame. In the meantime, Esmeralda, having been happily raised by the gypsies, lives with them in Paris and earns a living as a dancer. She comes to the attention of the evil Frollo and is rescued from a fate worse than death by the kind-hearted Quasimodo. He, in turn is aided by her when he runs afoul of the law, but ultimately, they both succumb to a tragic end. The story has had many treatments, but perhaps it is the Walt Disney 1996 animated version that delights us most (and presents a happy ending). Esmeralda is as beautiful as ever, with her emerald green eyes, but she is perhaps a tad more independent and self-willed (voiced by Demi Moore). In this incarnation, both Esmeralda and Quasimodo are spared, he to come into the fruition of belief in his own self-worth, and she to a satisfying denouement in which she happily marries her true love, Captain Phoebus.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ESMERALDA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Esmeralda


Popular Songs

ON ESMERALDA

Esmeralda
an opera by Dargomyzhsky

Esmeralda's Hollywood
a song by Steve Earle and The Dukes

Dearest Esmeralda
a song by John Denver

Famous People

NAMED ESMERALDA

Esmeralda Santiago (author)
Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium (royalty)
Esmeralda Kapiolani Marignoli (Hawaiian-Italian noblewoman)

Children of Famous People

NAMED ESMERALDA

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Esmeralda

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ESMERALDA

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Esmeralda