Meaning: Its source is Ester, a Hebrew name meaning "The myrtle tree or star."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Hungarian.

Narrative: The scriptural Book of Esther is set in ancient Persia. In it, a Jewish girl called Hadassah at birth is re-named Esther, possibly to hide her heritage. As she grows up, her beauty and winning ways attract the Persian king, who names her his queen. She learns of the minister Haman's intention to slaughter her people, and successfully intervenes on their behalf at great personal risk. Jews celebrate the festival of Purim in memory of her.

Some believe Esther derives from the Persian stara (star), or from the name of the Persian goddess of love, Ishtar. Others maintain that it was simply a translation of the scripturally related name Hadassah (myrtle).

The myrtle tree was sacred to Ishtar, and also to the Greek and Roman love goddesses.