![]() The Biblical Queen Esther depicted in a portrait by John Everett Millais. | |
Gender | Female |
---|---|
Origin | |
Word/name | Hebrew/Jewish |
Meaning | "Star" |
Other names | |
Related names | Estee, Estella, Estelle, Esti, Estrella, Hadassah, Hester, Stella |
Esther (Hebrew: אֶסְתֵּר) is a female given name known from the Jewish queen Esther, eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther.
According to the Hebrew Bible, queen Esther was born with the name הֲדַסָּה Hadassah ("Myrtle"). Her name was changed to Esther to hide her identity upon becoming queen of Persia. The three letter root of Esther in Hebrew is s-t-r (סתר), "hide, conceal". The passive infinitive is (לְהִסָּ֫תֶר), "to be hidden".[1]
The name can be derived from the Old Persian stāra (NPer. ستاره setāra, meaning "star") although some scholars identify Esther with the name of the Babylonian goddess of love Ishtar, given its association with the planet Venus (in its role as the Morning Star and the Evening star; see also the Star of Ishtar).[2]
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