Essie is a given name and nickname/

hypocorism A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek: (), from (), 'to call by pet names', sometimes also ''hypocoristic'') or pet name is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as ''Izzy'' for I ...

usually used as a feminine name. As a standalone name, ''Essie'' can be found in several languages, including Romance, Germanic, and Persian ones. In each case, the name means "star." As a nickname, it is used as a short form of several names, including ''

Esther Esther is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther. In the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian king Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, is deposed for disobeying him. Hadassah, a Jewess who goes by the name of Esther, is chosen ...

'', '' Estelle'', ''Celeste'', ''Leslie'', ''Lesley'', and ''Esmeralda''. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, the name reached its greatest popularity in the 1890s, peaking as the 139th most popular name for girls born during that decade.

People

Women

Essie Ackland Essie Ackland (27 March 189614 February 1975) was an Australian contralto who performed ballads, songs and in oratorio and concerts. At one time her recordings were more in demand than those of any other female singer in the world. She also re ...

(1896–1975), Australian singer *

Essie Coffey Essie Coffey , born Essieina Shillingsworth, (1941–1998) was born near Goodooga in northern New South Wales, Australia. She was a Muruwari woman and the co-founder of the Western Aboriginal Legal Service and served on a number of governmen ...

(1940–1998), Australian Muruwari woman, co-founder of the Western Aboriginal Legal Service *

Essie Davis Esther Davis (born 19 January 1970) is an Australian actress and singer, best known for her roles as Phryne Fisher in ''Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries'' and its film adaptation, '' Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears'', and as Amelia Vanek in ''Th ...

(born 1970), Australian actress *

Essie Garrett Essie Garrett (1947- 1 April 2014) was an American ultramarathon runner and instructor at Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver, Colorado. Biography Raised in Riesel, Texas, Garrett joined the Army at age 16 and served for three years befo ...

(1947–2014), American ultramarathon runner and instructor *

Essie Jain Essie Jain is an English singer and songwriter born and raised in London, who is now based in Los Angeles. Biography Her first published work was a single track, "Why", on the album ''The Sound the Hare Heard'', which contains a single track e ...

, English indie singer-songwriter *

Essie Jenyns Essie Jenyns (5 October 1864 – 6 August 1920) was an Australian actress best known for her Shakespearean roles. Birth and early life Elizabeth Esther Ellen Jennings was born in Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland in 1864. Her father, Charles Rober ...

(1864–1920), Australian stage actress * Essie Kelley (born 1957), American former middle-distance runner *

Essie Pinola Parrish Essie Pinola Parrish (1902–1979), was a Kashaya Pomo spiritual leader and exponent of native traditions. She was also a notable basket weaver. Biography Parrish was born Essie Pinola in 1902 at the Stewarts Point Rancheria in Stewarts Poi ...

(1902–1979), Native American spiritual leader and basket weaver *

Eslanda Goode Robeson Eslanda "Essie" Cardozo Goode Robeson (December 15, 1895 – December 13, 1965) was an American anthropologist, author, actress, and civil rights activist. She was the wife and business manager of performer Paul Robeson. Biography Early ye ...

, (1896–1965) wife and business manager of Paul Robeson *

Essie Wick Rowland Essie Wick Rowland (née Osborn; September 2, 1871 – August 20, 1957) was an American socialite. She was deeply engaged in New York Society as a member and president of numerous society organizations. She supported women's suffrage, poverty al ...

(1871–1957), American socialite * Essie Shevill (1908–1989), Australian cricketer *

Essie Summers Essie Summers (born Ethel Snelson Summers, 24 July 1912 – 27 August 1998) was a New Zealand writer whose romance novels sold more than 19 million copies in 105 countries. She was known as New Zealand's "Queen of Romance." Writing Despite th ...

(1912–1998), New Zealand author *

Essie Mae Washington-Williams Essie Mae Washington-Williams (née Butler; October 12, 1925 – February 4, 2013) was an American teacher and author. She is best known as the eldest child of Strom Thurmond, Governor of South Carolina (1947–1951) and longtime United States ...

(1925–2013), the oldest child of the late United States Senator Strom Thurmond *

Essie Weingarten Essie Weingarten is the founder of Essie Cosmetics, Ltd., branded as essie, a major American nail polish brand. Weingarten, born in 1949, began her career in the cosmetics industry in 1981 when she premiered 12 fashion nail polish colors in La ...

(born 1949), founder of Essie Cosmetics, Ltd * Essie Whitman (c. 1887 – 1963), one of the

Whitman Sisters The Whitman Sisters were four African-American sisters who were stars of Black Vaudeville. They ran their own performing touring company for over forty years from 1900 to 1943, becoming the longest-running and best-paid act on the T.O.B.A. circu ...

black vaudeville stars

Men

Essie Hollis Essie B Hollis (born May 16, 1955) is an American retired professional basketball player. He played at the small forward position. College career Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Hollis attended St. Bonaventure University, where he played with the B ...

(born 1955), American retired basketball player *

Essie Sakhai Essie Sakhai (born in Tehran, Iran and educated in Great Britain) is an Iranian businessman and one of the world's foremost experts, collectors and dealers of the ancient Iranian art form of the Persian and Oriental Carpets and Rugs. Born to a ...

, Iranian-born British expert on Persian carpets and oriental rugs

Fictional characters

Essie Harrison Estelle "Essie" Harrison (also Di Lucca) is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'', played by actress Kaye Wragg. She first appeared in the series sixteen episode "My Name Is Joe", broadcast on 6 May 2014. Essie arrives a ...

, on the British medical drama series ''Holby City''

References

{{given name Hypocorisms