Essence
Essence was the 1165th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 199 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 457th with 565 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 300 places. More babies were named Essence in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,165 girls, up 63 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 199girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1998565 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,761babies recorded
Essence popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 17 since 2021, 6 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,165 | 199 |
| 2020 | #1,228 | 186 |
| 2010 | #1,016 | 247 |
| 2000 | #583 | 447 |
| 1990 | #1,220 | 138 |
| 1980 | #2,163 | 47 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Essence, counting every spelling?
Essence has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #1,118 for girls in 2025, against #1,165 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Essence?
199 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Essence (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Essence born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 42 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Essence.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Essence?
About 10,600 people born in the US named Essence are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 15 and 30. That makes Essence mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Essence by state
How common Essence was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Georgia (3.1×), Louisiana (2.5×), South Carolina (2.3×), North Carolina (2.0×), Michigan (1.7×). In 26 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Essence: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Essence, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Essence
How popular is the name Essence?
Essence was the 1165th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 199 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 457th with 565 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 300 places. More babies were named Essence in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Essence a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Essence in the US.
Where is Essence most popular?
In 2021–2025, Essence was most common in Georgia (0.41 per 1,000 girls), followed by Louisiana and South Carolina.