Girl · #987 in 2026

Essence

Essence has various meanings and uses for different thinkers and in different contexts. It is used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties or attributes that make an entity the entity it is or, expressed negatively, without which it would lose its identity.

Current Rank
#987
Peak Rank
#456 (1998)
Total Babies
11K
5-Yr Trend
+58%
1973
First Year
2026
Last Year
1998
Peak Year
#456
Peak Rank
11K
Total Count
54
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Essence

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

Essence has various meanings and uses for different thinkers and in different contexts. It is used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties or attributes that make an entity the entity it is or, expressed negatively, without which it would lose its identity.

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

Etymology
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The Story of Essence

Essence first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1973, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 565 Essences were born — ranking #456 that year. As of 2026, Essence ranks #987 for baby girls with 260 births, rising sharply (+58% over the past five years). In total, more than 11K Essences have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s 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 Essence

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

  • Escence
  • Essens
  • Aisance
  • Essen
  • Esson
  • Esus
  • Pubescence
  • Ehsan
  • Esen
  • Essenced
  • Essonne
  • Esin

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Essence

What does the name Essence mean?
Essence has various meanings and uses for different thinkers and in different contexts. It is used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties or attributes that make an entity the entity it is or, expressed negatively, without which it would lose its identity.
How popular is Essence in 2026?
In 2026, Essence ranks #987 among girls' names in the U.S., with 260 babies given the name that year.
When was Essence most popular?
Essence reached its peak popularity in 1998, ranking #456 that year with 565 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Essence most popular?
Essence has historically been most popular in South Carolina, Delaware, North Carolina. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Essence.
Is Essence a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Essence is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Essence?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Essence include Melina, Calliope, Alesia. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Melina
Peak #456
👧
Calliope
Peak #456
👧
Alesia
Peak #456
👧
Yetta
Peak #455
👧
Susana
Peak #457
👧
Ima
Peak #457
👧
Georgette
Peak #455
👧
Merry
Peak #455

About the name Essence

Essence is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1973 and has accumulated 11K births in the dataset. Essence's peak popularity came in 1998 when it ranked #456. Use the chart and map above to compare Essence'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.