Boy · #8,983 in 2026

Esquire

Esquire is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, esquire historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman and below the rank of knight. Some sources state that the title was bestowed on "candidates for knighthood in England".

Current Rank
#8,983
Peak Rank
#8,983 (2009)
Total Babies
15
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2006
First Year
2009
Last Year
2009
Peak Year
#8983
Peak Rank
15
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Esquire

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

Esquire is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, esquire historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman and below the rank of knight. Some sources state that the title was bestowed on "candidates for knighthood in England".

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

Origin & history
Chief Justice Coke (1552–1634) defined "gentlemen" as those who bear coats of arms . From the 16th century such families were defined by the inclusion of their pedigrees within their county's heraldic visitations , which necessitated their submitting a return of their pedigree to the visiting herald at the specified location, generally one of the chief towns of the county. The 1623 Heraldic Visitation for Gloucestershire, for example, includes a section at the back headed: "A note of such as were disclaymed to be no gentilmen within the county and city of Gloucester" , the list being headed by

The Story of Esquire

Esquire first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2006, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 8 Esquires were born — ranking #8,983 that year. As of 2026, Esquire ranks #8,983 for baby boys with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 15 Esquires have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s 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 Esquire

Phonetically similar names — useful when Esquire is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Esquires
  • Esquiar
  • Acquire
  • Aquire
  • Inquire
  • Squire
  • Enquire
  • Rescuer
  • Eskew
  • Squier
  • Esker
  • Eschar

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Esquire

What does the name Esquire mean?
Esquire is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, esquire historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman and below the rank of knight. Some sources state that the title was bestowed on "candidates for knighthood in England".
How popular is Esquire in 2026?
In 2026, Esquire ranks #8,983 among boys' names in the U.S., with 8 babies given the name that year.
When was Esquire most popular?
Esquire reached its peak popularity in 2009, ranking #8,983 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Esquire a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Esquire is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Esquire?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Esquire include Brig, Fernanda, Kevinn. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Brig
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Fernanda
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Kevinn
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Corell
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👦
Danson
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👦
Deyan
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Caanan
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Calieb
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About the name Esquire

Esquire is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2006 and has accumulated 15 births in the dataset. Esquire's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #8,983. Use the chart and map above to compare Esquire'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.