Girl name · Spanish
Esmeralda
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: emeraldEsmeralda is a girl's name that comes from Spanish and means "emerald". It is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
- Meaning
- Emerald
- Origin
- Spanish
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- es-meh-RAHL-dah (Spanish)
Meaning and origin of Esmeralda
As a girl's name, Esmeralda comes from Spanish and means "emerald". It is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
In Spanish, say es-meh-RAHL-dah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Esmeralda on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Esmeralda on 5 lists.
“Emerald; Spanish. Lush and dramatic”
From Girl middle names, gem and celestial middle names
“Emerald; Spanish. The dancer at the heart of Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris”
From Gothic names, gothic female names with real meanings
“Emerald; Greek. Say es-meh-RAHL-dah”
From Mexican girl names, mexican girl names from nature
“The heroine whose clever goat Djali stole the show”
From Goat names, girl goat names
“Spanish for emerald, for a green-eyed countess”
From Vampire names, female vampire names
How popular is Esmeralda?
- US rank in 2025
- #373
- 823 babies, 512 per million girls
- Best rank
- #133 in 1998
- 2,477 babies that year
- Babies since 1911
- At least 51,571
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 3 per million |
| 1920s | 8 per million |
| 1930s | 11 per million |
| 1940s | 23 per million |
| 1950s | 57 per million |
| 1960s | 88 per million |
| 1970s | 252 per million |
| 1980s | 278 per million |
| 1990s | 571 per million |
| 2000s | 838 per million |
| 2010s | 507 per million |
| 2020s | 510 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #377 | #378 | #377 | #379 | #394 | #450 | #371 | #342 | #350 | #373 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- SmaragdaEmerald (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Esmeralda
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Spanish
- RioRiver (Spanish, unisex)
- AitanaFrom a place name, a mountain range in Valencia (Spanish, girl)
- DoloresSorrows, our lady of sorrows (Spanish, girl)
- SierraMountain range (Spanish, girl)
- XimenaFeminine of Ximeno, a medieval Spanish name of uncertain meaning (Spanish, girl)
- AlondraLark (Spanish, girl)
- AltagraciaHigh grace (Spanish, girl)
- AmapolaPoppy (Spanish, girl)
- AmparoShelter, protection (Spanish, girl)
- ÁngelesAngels (Spanish, girl)
Esmeralda: common questions
What does the name Esmeralda mean?
Esmeralda comes from Spanish and means "emerald".
Is Esmeralda a boy or girl name?
Esmeralda is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Esmeralda come from?
Esmeralda comes from Spanish and means "emerald". Today it is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
How do you pronounce Esmeralda?
In Spanish, say es-meh-RAHL-dah. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Esmeralda?
Esmeralda ranked #373 in the US in 2025, with 823 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Esmeralda?
Middle names that flow well with Esmeralda include Anne, Belle, Faith, Grace and Jade. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.