Esther

Esther (f) In former times this name could interchange
with Hester, but Esther is the main Scottish form. In the
Old Testament Esther is the Persian name of the Jewish
captive Hadassah, ‘myrtle.’ It is not clear whether the one name translates the other. Esther has often been linked with the Persian word for ‘star.’ Jonathan Swift certainly did so when he wrote to Esther Johnson as Stella, which is Latin for ‘star.’

Esther was 80th most frequently used name in Scotland
in 1935. It had been fashionable somewhat earlier in
England and Wales, as well as in North America, Pet
forms of the name include Essie and Hetty. The latter is
used occasionally as an independent name.

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