Hester: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#15,770

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Hester

How common

1 in 321,453

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1918

407 babies

All-time total

14,764

#1,328 all-time among girls

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Hester popularity over time

14,764 babies have been named Hester since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	796	–	796	80	–	#202
1890s	1,401	15	1,416	142	+78%	#204
1900s	1,663	37	1,700	170	+20%	#230
1910s	3,111	138	3,249	325	+91%	#264
1920s	3,037	143	3,180	318	-2%	#335
1930s	1,523	108	1,631	163	-49%	#459
1940s	1,115	69	1,184	118	-27%	#609
1950s	754	22	776	78	-34%	#886
1960s	348	–	348	35	-55%	#1,646
1970s	239	5	244	24	-30%	#2,369
1980s	154	–	154	15	-37%	#3,363
1990s	49	–	49	5	-68%	#6,772
2000s	15	–	15	2	-69%	#15,940
2010s	12	–	12	1	-20%	#12,957
2020s (to 2025)	10	–	10	2	+39%	#15,770

The story of Hester

Hester is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #15,770 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 14,764 American babies have been named Hester. Its peak came in 1918, when 407 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Hester stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Hester?

The median living Hester is about 75 years old; half are between 63 and 83. An estimated 2,700 people named Hester are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Hester year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	5	#15,770	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	5	#16,080	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	7	#12,957	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	5	#18,002	–	–
2009	5	#18,340	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	5	#17,083	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	5	#15,940	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	10	#8,090	–	–
1985	14	#5,158	–	–
1980	16	#4,586	–	–
1975	21	#3,319	–	–
1970	32	#2,369	5	#5,021
1965	19	#2,865	–	–
1960	47	#1,646	–	–
1955	80	#1,115	6	#3,672
1950	101	#886	5	#3,910
1945	100	#752	7	#2,855
1940	132	#609	13	#2,028
1935	134	#552	5	#3,895
1930	214	#459	12	#2,362
1925	325	#378	21	#1,709
1920	362	#346	18	#1,922
1915	359	#310	21	#1,528
1910	212	#264	9	#1,153
1905	160	#260	–	–
1900	183	#234	9	#937
1895	164	#212	–	–
1890	119	#225	–	–
1885	85	#213	–	–
1880	49	#219	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Hester, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Hester?

The median living Hester is about 75 years old. Half of all living Hesters are between 63 and 83 years old.

How many people named Hester are alive today?

An estimated 2,700 people named Hester are alive in the United States, based on 14,764 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Hester mean?

From the Latin form of Esther.

How popular is the name Hester in 2025?

Hester ranked #15,770 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Hester?

14,764 babies have been named Hester in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Hester most popular?

Hester peaked in 1918, when 407 newborns received the name.

Is Hester a boy or girl name?

Hester is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 96% of babies with the name.

Is the name Hester rising or falling?

Hester is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Hester

Names that sound and feel close to Hester: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Hester with similar names → More names starting with H →