Esau
Esau is the name given to the older son of Isaac in the Hebrew Bible.
- Biblical
- Biblical Latin
- Biblical Greek
Meaning & Origin of Esau
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Esau is the name given to the older son of Isaac in the Hebrew Bible.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Biblical
- Biblical Latin
- Biblical Greek
The Story of Esau
The earliest SSA record of Esau as a baby boy name dates back to 1880, when 5 babies received it. 2007 was its biggest year on record, with 82 newborns named Esau — #1,781 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 21% of all recorded Esaus. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,124 among baby boy names with 39 births, rising sharply (+16% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Esaus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Esau
Phonetically similar names — useful when Esau is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Esau
What does the name Esau mean?
What is the origin of the name Esau?
How popular is Esau in 2026?
When was Esau most popular?
In which U.S. states is Esau most popular?
Is Esau a unisex name?
What names go well with Esau?
About the name Esau
Esau is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Esau's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #884. Use the chart and map above to compare Esau's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2007 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.