Essence
Girl name · #1166 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Essence? In official American birth records, Essence has been tracked continuously since 1973, giving it 52 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 199 baby girls were named Essence, placing it at #1166 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1464, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,045 girls born in 2025 was named Essence.
The 52-year story
Essence first appears in the Social Security records in 1973, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 565 girls were named Essence — good for #456 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Essence per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Essence against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Essence in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Essence is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Essence will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Essence is most common
Geography matters for names, and Essence is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Essence is most common in VA (0.3 per 1,000), GA (0.3 per 1,000), MI (0.3 per 1,000), NC (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Essence is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Essence
Statistically, parents drawn to Essence tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Patience, Yasmine, Justice, Emilie, and Emilee.
PatienceYasmineJusticeEmilieEmileeBryceKayceeMontana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Essence | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 199 | #1163 |
| 2024 | 228 | #1085 |
| 2023 | 250 | #1012 |
| 2022 | 256 | #1015 |
| 2021 | 149 | #1441 |
| 2020 | 186 | #1227 |
| 2019 | 149 | #1474 |
| 2018 | 155 | #1425 |
| 2017 | 148 | #1495 |
| 2016 | 136 | #1614 |
| 2015 | 157 | #1464 |
| 2014 | 189 | #1270 |
| 2013 | 201 | #1192 |
| 2012 | 225 | #1096 |
| 2011 | 245 | #1019 |
| 2010 | 247 | #1015 |
| 2009 | 263 | #1006 |
| 2008 | 274 | #977 |
| 2007 | 287 | #944 |
| 2006 | 320 | #838 |
| 2005 | 268 | #928 |
| 2004 | 308 | #813 |
| 2003 | 333 | #749 |
| 2002 | 273 | #846 |
| 2001 | 322 | #741 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Essence?
In official American birth records, the name Essence first appeared in 1973 (over 52 years ago), when 8 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 52 years.
Is Essence a popular girl name?
Essence ranked #1166 among girls in 2025 with 199 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1464.
When was the name Essence most popular?
Essence peaked in 1998, when 565 American girls received the name (ranked #456 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Essence?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,045 newborn American girls was named Essence. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.