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Esmeralda

♀ Girl

Pronounced ez-mer-AL-dah /ˌɛz.mɛˈɹæl.də/High

Meaning: From Spanish and Portuguese 'esmeralda', meaning emerald — the precious green gemstone, from the Greek 'smaragdos' and Latin 'smaragdus'.High

In 30 seconds: Esmeralda is a four-syllable gemstone name meaning 'emerald' in Spanish — lush, vivid, and full of Romance language grandeur. From Victor Hugo to Disney, it has always named a woman of beauty, independence, and fierce spirit.
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Origin HighSpanish, Greek, Portuguese
MeaningFrom Spanish and Portuguese 'esmeralda', meaning emerald — the precious green gemstone, from the Greek 'smaragdos' and Latin 'smaragdus'.
U.S. rank (2025)#373 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births823 girls (0.05% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 51,566

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819112025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Esmeralda derives from the Spanish and Portuguese word for emerald, itself from the Greek smaragdos and Latin smaragdus — a precious green gemstone known since antiquity. As a personal name, Esmeralda began appearing in Spain and Portugal in the medieval period as a poetic name suggesting the beauty and rarity of the emerald gemstone.

Esmeralda gained literary immortality through Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris (1831), in which the Romani dancer Esmeralda is one of literature's most memorable heroines. The Disney animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) brought the name to a new generation. In the United States, Esmeralda ranks in the top 200–300 girls' names, particularly in Hispanic communities. It is also popular in Brazil, Mexico, and across Latin America.

Did you know? In Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris (1831), Esmeralda is a Romani dancer whose beauty and kindness stand in stark contrast to the cruelty surrounding her — and Hugo's choice of the name 'emerald' (precious, vibrant green) was entirely deliberate, painting her as a jewel among men.
Overall data confidence 95%
Oxford Spanish Dictionary — Etymology of Spanish esmeralda from Greek smaragdosSocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity trends for Esmeralda

Variations

EsmeraldEsmy

Nicknames

EsmeEsmyEmmy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Esmeralda (Victor Hugo, fictional) (1831)
    Romani dancer and heroine of Notre-Dame de Paris, later adapted into The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

If you like Esmeralda…

Celestina— four-syllable Spanish name with the same gemstone-and-celestial opulence and Latin American culture
Valentina— four-syllable Romance feminine name with the same vibrant Latin American appeal
Guadalupe— four-syllable Spanish devotional name with the same cultural depth in Latin American communities

Frequently Asked

What does the name Esmeralda mean?

Esmeralda means 'emerald', from Spanish esmeralda, referring to the precious green gemstone from Greek smaragdos.

How do you pronounce Esmeralda?

Esmeralda is pronounced ez-mer-AL-dah (/ˌɛz.mɛˈɹæl.də/), four syllables with stress on the third.

Is Esmeralda a boy or girl name?

Esmeralda is a girl's name.

How popular is Esmeralda?

Esmeralda ranks in the US top 200–300 girls' names, particularly popular in Hispanic communities, and is top-ranked across Latin America.