Esther is usually derived from the Persian word for "star" or linked to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar; in the Bible it is the Persian name of the Jewish queen Hadassah, whose courage saved her people and is celebrated at Purim. The name has been in steady use among Jewish and Christian families for centuries. Esther ranked number 323 in 2000 and number 203 in 2015, and has risen to number 119 in 2025, its best rank this century.