Meaning & Story
Esme is a French-origin given name, derived from the Old French esme, the past participle of esmer meaning to esteem or love, making the full meaning esteemed or beloved. The name has been used in both masculine and feminine forms historically and appears in literature, most notably in J.D. Salinger's story For Esme with Love and Squalor. For pets, Esme carries a literary elegance and a sense of being genuinely, deeply cherished.
Esme is a name that means beloved, which is appropriate because any companion with this name is precisely that. It has a literary, slightly old-world quality that sits beautifully on a female companion with a graceful, thoughtful personality, the kind of pet who settles beside you with particular deliberateness and whose company feels chosen. The French origin gives it a softness in the mouth that makes it a pleasure to say quietly. Esme is a name for a companion who is not just loved but genuinely esteemed.