Hadassa is the Hebrew word for "myrtle", a fragrant evergreen shrub, and was the Hebrew name of Queen Esther in the Old Testament, which is why the name is especially loved around the festival of Purim. The spelling without the final h is common in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries. In the United States Hadassa has climbed from number 5556 in 2000 to number 1603 in 2024 and ranks number 1695 in 2025.