Esmeralda

The first name Esmeralda comes from Spanish and Portuguese and can be translated as 'the emerald' (a green gemstone). Since the 19th century, Esmeralda has enjoyed great popularity.

What does the name Esmeralda mean?

The name Esmeralda, which comes from Spanish and Portuguese, literally means 'the emerald' (a green gemstone). This first name has been popular since the 19th century and is still frequently used in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries today. One of the most famous literary figures with this name can be found in Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' from 1831. In the modern world, the Mexican actress Esmeralda Pimentel is a prominent bearer of this name.

Where does the name Esmeralda come from?

Esmeralda is a female first name with Spanish roots, meaning 'the emerald'. The term is derived from the Spanish word 'esmeralda' for 'emerald'. It is a designation that is widespread in the Spanish and Portuguese languages as well as in Latin America.

How do you pronounce Esmeralda?

The pronunciation of Esmeralda is rhythmic and can vary between four and five syllables. In German, the name is typically pronounced as 'Es-me-ral-da' [ɛsmɛˈʁalda]. It begins with a clear, open E sound that conveys a certain clarity. The consonant cluster '-rld-' provides structure in the middle part, while the open A at the end of the name radiates warmth. This makes Esmeralda impressive, melodic, feminine, and sonically distinctive.

Popularity

In Germany, Esmeralda is one of the sought-after girl names. Currently, it ranks 1,630th on the list of most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2014, when it reached 721st place. Over the last ten years, Esmeralda has been chosen as a first name about 280 times, placing it 1,281st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,223rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Esana / Eschem / Esime / Esma / Esme / Esmi / Malda / Meri / Smera / Smo

Famous people

• Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw (jazz musician from the Netherlands)
• Esmeralda Athanasiu-Gardeev (composer)
• Esmeralda Barros (actress from Brazil)
• Esmeralda de Jesus Garcia (sprinter from Brazil)
• Esmeralda Pimentel (actress from Mexico)
• Esmeralda Santiago (American actress)
• Esmeralda Wetterwachs (fictional character from the Discworld universe by Pratchett)
• La Esmeralda (novel & film character 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame')
• Seven Times Great-Grandmother Esmeralda (children's book character 'Das Getüm')