Hester

Hester is considered a Latin variant of the Persian name Esther, which is primarily prevalent in English-speaking and Dutch regions. The meaning of the name can be translated as "the star" and "the goddess."

What does the name Hester mean?

Hester is regarded as a Latin derivative of the Persian name Esther, which is especially popular in English-speaking and Dutch countries. The translation of the name is "the star" and "the goddess." Its roots can be traced back to the Old Persian term stāreh or setāra (ستاره), meaning "the star," and the Babylonian or Akkadian word ištar, which means "the goddess" and is related to the Babylonian mother goddess Ishtar. In the Bible, Esther was the Jewish wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus, who later prevented the extermination of the Jews in Persian exile. Hester is also a surname of a prominent family from Yorkshire that emigrated to Ireland and later to the USA. Other variants of the name include Ester, Esthera, Estere, Estera (in Lithuanian, Polish, and Slovak), Esteri (Finnish), Essie, Esta, Eszter (Hungarian), Eszti, Estee (French), Yesfir, Esfir (Russian), Eistir, Astar, and Astare.

Where does the name Hester come from?

The name Hester has its origins in Old Persian and Babylonian and means "the star." The etymology consists of the Old Persian stāreh or setāra (ستاره) for "the star" and the Babylonian ištar for "the goddess." The languages in which the name is prevalent include English, Latin, and Dutch.

How do you pronounce Hester?

The pronunciation of Hester is clear and two-syllable. In German, the name is usually pronounced as "Hes-ter" [ˈhɛstɐ], starting with a bright, open "e" that conveys immediate presence. The consonant cluster "-st" in the middle gives it a distinctive and slightly taut structure. The gentle fading of the second syllable provides a harmonious balance to the clear beginning. Hester radiates a simple yet powerful aura - she is calm, self-assured, and carries the sound of a Northwestern European sobriety.

When is the name day of Hester?

Hester celebrates her name day on May 24.

Popularity

In Germany, Hester is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,884th in the list of the most common female first names. In the last ten years, the name has been given less than 10 times, placing it 11,442nd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, Hester ranks 13,070th. Information on the global popularity and distribution of Hester shows its rankings in the name charts of various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Hess / Hestea / Hesti

Famous people

• Alix Hester Marie Kilroy (English writer)
• Hester Albach (Dutch writer)
• Hester Biddle (writer from Portugal)
• Hester Chapone (British writer)
• Hester Goodsell (English rower)
• Hester Kaplan (American writer)
• Hester Lynch Thrale (British writer)
• Hester Maclean (Australian writer)
• Hester Margaret Sainsbury (English artist)
• Hester Prynne (film character from "The Scarlet Letter")
• Hester Santlow (British actress)
• Hester Thrale (English writer)
• Hester van Eeghen (American designer)
• Hester Wagstaff (English artist)
• Hester Winkel (model from the Netherlands)
• Hester-Sue (film character from the series "Little House on the Prairie")
• Lady Hester Pulter (English writer)
• Lady Hester Stanhope (archaeologist from Great Britain)
• Maria Hester Park (English pianist)