Hester
Hester was the 15770th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 202nd; the most babies were born in 1918 (394). More babies were named Hester in the 1910s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #15,770 girls
- Babies in 2025
- 5girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1918394 babies
- Total since 1880
- 14,764babies recorded
Hester popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 537 since 1893.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #15,770 | 5 |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | #18,002 | 5 |
| 2000 | #15,940 | 5 |
| 1990 | #8,090 | 10 |
| 1980 | #4,586 | 16 |
| 1970 | #2,369 | 32 |
| 1960 | #1,646 | 47 |
| 1950 | #886 | 101 |
| 1940 | #609 | 132 |
| 1930 | #459 | 214 |
| 1920 | #346 | 362 |
| 1910 | #264 | 212 |
| 1900 | #234 | 183 |
| 1890 | #225 | 119 |
| 1880 | #219 | 49 |
How popular is Hester, counting every spelling?
Hester has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Hester?
5 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Hester (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Hester 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 1,661 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Hester.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Hester?
About 2,300 people born in the US named Hester are alive today, with a median age of 73; half are between 62 and 83. That makes Hester a name most people associate with older generations.
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.
Hester by state
How common Hester was among girls born in each state in 1916–1920, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in West Virginia (3.2×), Virginia (3.0×), South Carolina (2.8×), Kentucky (2.8×), Tennessee (2.5×). In 23 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 Hester: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Hester, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Hester
How popular is the name Hester?
Hester was the 15770th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 202nd; the most babies were born in 1918 (394). More babies were named Hester in the 1910s than in any other decade.
Is Hester a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Hester in the US.
Where was Hester most popular?
In 1916–1920, Hester was most common in West Virginia (1.07 per 1,000 girls), followed by Virginia and South Carolina.