Esme is a name of probable Old French origin, from esmer, to esteem, to love, with a softness that feels both ancient and contemporary. On a pet it carries a literary, slightly mysterious quality: the kind of name chosen by owners who have strong opinions about J.D. Salinger and name their cats after characters in short fiction.
The Literary Register
Esme is most recognizable from Salinger's 1950 story For Esme — with Love and Squalor, and from its use in the Twilight series (Esme Cullen, the Cullen matriarch). The Twilight connection gave it a modern pulse without overwhelming the literary origin. Russian Blue cats and Whippets suit Esme's combination of grace and slight melancholy.
Human-Pet Crossover
The human name Esme has been climbing since approximately 2010, now sitting in the US top 300 for girls. That mainstream momentum means the pet version reads as a considered choice rather than an obscure reference.
Counter-Reading: The Accent Mark Question
Esme is sometimes spelled Esmé with an accent, ensuring the final E is pronounced, giving it three syllables (Ez-MAY) rather than two (EZ-mee). Pet registries almost never capture the accent. Settling on one pronunciation and being consistent helps. Browse other literary-origin pet names.