Emma vs Hester

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Emma

Girl #2 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"strength"

Origin: Germanic

Cultural Roots

English German French

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank: #2
Total SSA Count: 13,485
Syllables: 2
Formality: Moderate
Nicknames: Em, Emmy

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear

Similar Names

Paisley Esther Allison Sadie

Full profile for Emma →

Hester

Boy #30,172 Most Popular

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank: #30,172
Total SSA Count: 5
Nicknames: Hes, Hest, Hesty

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear

Similar Names

Aba Trafton Elionai Wain

Full profile for Hester →

Popularity Comparison

Emma Rank #2

Hester Rank #30,172

Emma is more popular, ranked #2 vs #30172 for Hester.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Emma ___

Emma Rose
Emma Grace
Emma Jane
Emma Louise
Emma Kate
Emma Marie

Hester ___

No pairings available yet.

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Emma

Olivia Charlotte Liam Henry Sophia

If you choose Hester

No sibling data available yet.

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emma or Hester more popular?

Emma is more popular, ranked #2 compared to Hester at #30172 in the United States.

What do Emma and Hester mean?

Emma means "strength" (Germanic origin).

Are Emma and Hester boy or girl names?

Emma is primarily a girl name. Hester is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Hester vs Emma Emma vs Paisley Emma vs Esther Emma vs Allison Emma vs Sadie

← Full profile: Emma ← Full profile: Hester Browse all baby names