Esau

Esau - A very unique male name

Esau appeared on the charts for the first time in 1914 on position #1368. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Esau and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Esau? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Esau. The baby boy name Esau was given to 9 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3233 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 162,920 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Esau peaked in popularity 92 years ago in 1934 on position 1255.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Esau, 1-5?

Esau is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Esau is currently topping the baby name charts in Texas at position #1,797 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,797.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Esau is where you live.

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Esau origin and meaning

Hebrew (biblical)

Uncertain — traditionally linked in Genesis to hairiness and redness, but the Hebrew etymology is disputed

Esau is Jacob's twin brother in Genesis, the hairy hunter who sold his birthright for stew. The name has never been common in the US — its best year was 2007, with just 52 births.

Origin uncertain

Esau is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Esau, pop culture references for the name Esau and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Esau

We've found the following names that sound similar to Esau, sorted by popularity.

Esai / Ezio / Eziah / Eesa / Essa / Essie / Esaias / Esa / Esiah / Eisa /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Esau

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Esau a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Esau?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

EE-saw · /ˈisɔ/

Around the world

• Esaú (Spanish) — The Spanish form, with the accent

Famous bearers

• Esau — Twin brother of Jacob in Genesis, ancestor of the Edomites (Biblical) Historical

Style

Biblical

Why parents choose it

Esau is rugged and biblical, a choice for parents who like the rough-edged Old Testament stories.

Worth knowing

• The birthright story gives the name a rough, impulsive image for Bible-literate ears
• English speakers split between EE-saw and eh-SOW