Boy · #3,641 in 2026

Esker

An esker, eskar, eschar, or os, sometimes called an asar, osar, or serpent kame, is a long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America. They are most often formed by the deposition of sediment at the bottom of ice-walled channels within or beneath a former glacier.

Current Rank
#3,641
Peak Rank
#1,885 (1920)
Total Babies
313
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1900
First Year
1962
Last Year
1920
Peak Year
#1885
Peak Rank
313
Total Count
40
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Esker

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

An esker, eskar, eschar, or os, sometimes called an asar, osar, or serpent kame, is a long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America. They are most often formed by the deposition of sediment at the bottom of ice-walled channels within or beneath a former glacier.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Portions of the Denali Highway in Alaska are built on eskers. The term esker is derived from the Irish word eiscir ( Old Irish : escir ), which means "ridge or elevation, especially one separating two plains or depressed surfaces". The Irish word was and is used particularly to describe long sinuous ridges, which are now known to be deposits of fluvio-glacial material. The best-known example of such an eiscir is the Eiscir Riada , which runs nearly the whole width of Ireland from Dublin to Galway , a distance of 200 km (120 mi) , and is still closely followed by the main Dublin–Galway road The

The Story of Esker

Esker first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1900, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1920, when 18 Eskers were born — ranking #1,885 that year. As of 2026, Esker ranks #3,641 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 313 Eskers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Esker

Phonetically similar names — useful when Esker 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 Esker

What does the name Esker mean?
An esker, eskar, eschar, or os, sometimes called an asar, osar, or serpent kame, is a long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America. They are most often formed by the deposition of sediment at the bottom of ice-walled channels within or beneath a former glacier.
How popular is Esker in 2026?
In 2026, Esker ranks #3,641 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Esker most popular?
Esker reached its peak popularity in 1920, ranking #1,885 that year with 18 babies given the name.
Is Esker a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Esker is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Esker?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Esker include Hope, Wirt, Cleave. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Hope
Peak #1885
👦
Wirt
Peak #1885
👦
Cleave
Peak #1885
👦
Elby
Peak #1885
👦
Woodard
Peak #1885
👦
Orba
Peak #1885
👦
Saunders
Peak #1885
👦
Evo
Peak #1885

About the name Esker

Esker is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1900 and has accumulated 313 births in the dataset. Esker's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #1,885. Use the chart and map above to compare Esker's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.