NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Esra

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "helper" or "guide".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Esra is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Esra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1198, with 28 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 33 births.

This profile covers 471 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 85% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 475 living people in the UK are called Esra. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Esra ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 28 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 33 girls were registered as Esra.
  • Esra ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #640 in 2002.
  • About 475 living people in the UK are estimated to have Esra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.4% of Esra registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1198

2024

Births in 2024

28

Latest year

Peak year

2021

33 births

Estimated living

475

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Esra

In England and Wales birth records, Esra has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.6% of registrations are for boys and 99.4% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

99% girls
Boys3 (0.6%)Girls471 (99.4%)

Esra registered for boys

  • Ranked #5,119 in 2024
  • 3 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (3 births)

Esra registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,198 in 2024
  • 28 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2021 (33 births)

Meaning

What does Esra mean?

The name Esra has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the biblical name Ezra. It first appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, where Ezra was a Jewish scribe and priest who played a pivotal role in the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

Esra is believed to be a variation of the Hebrew name Ezra, which means "helper" or "aid." This name has been in use since ancient times and has a rich historical significance, particularly in Jewish and Christian traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Esra can be found in the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament, which details the life and works of Ezra the scribe. Ezra is known for leading a group of Jewish exiles from Babylon back to Jerusalem and overseeing the reconstruction of the city and its temple.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Esra or its variations. One of the most famous was Esra Pound (1885-1972), an American poet and critic who was a major figure in the Modernist literary movement. He was known for his influential works, such as "The Cantos" and his promotion of Imagism.

Another notable figure was Esra Taft Benson (1899-1994), an American religious leader who served as the 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death in 1994. He was also the United States Secretary of Agriculture under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In the field of science, Esra Hale (1892-1975) was an American chemist and educator who made significant contributions to the understanding of catalysis and chemical thermodynamics. He was also a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and served as the president of the American Chemical Society.

Another notable figure was Esra Edeen Chasan (1914-1997), an American artist and sculptor known for her abstract works and her contributions to the Modernist art movement. Her sculptures and installations can be found in various museums and public spaces across the United States.

Finally, Esra Bilgiç (born 1992) is a Turkish actress and model who has gained popularity for her roles in several Turkish television series, including "Ramo" and "Kuzey Yıldızı."

These individuals, spanning different eras and fields, exemplify the diverse and rich history associated with the name Esra, which has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language and continues to be used around the world today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Esra over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Esra in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Esra, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 28 births in 2024, compared with 33 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
08172533199620102024

Decades

Esra by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Esra was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1176 144 5
2010s #1964 157 10
2000s #1697 132 10
1990s #1732 38 4

Geography

Where Esra is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Esra. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Esra ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #640 in 2002.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Esra in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#640 in 2002

2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Esra

  • Esra Bennathan

    economist

    British economist

    1923-2016

Related

Names similar to Esra

FAQ

Esra: questions and answers

How popular is the name Esra in the UK right now?

In 2024, Esra was ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales, with 28 births registered.

When was Esra most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 33 babies registered as Esra in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Esra?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "helper" or "guide".

How many people are called Esra in the UK?

A total of 471 babies have been registered as Esra across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.

Where is Esra most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Esra ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #640 in 2002. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.