US Popularity Rank: 11307

Origin: Portuguese

Meaning: Emerald

Esmaralda is a girl’s name of Spanish and Portuguese origin. A variant spelling of Esmeralda, this beautiful name means “emerald” and gained worldwide fame when Victor Hugo used it in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In the novel, Esmeralda was born Agnès, but is called Esmeralda because of the emerald she wears around her neck. Esmeralda reached peak popularity in the US in the late 1990s and early 2000s thanks to Disney’s 1996 adaptation of Hugo’s novel. It’s also a much-loved name in Spain and Mexico. Whether you spell it Esmaralda or Esmeralda, this name is sure to inspire baby to emulate the courage, kindness, and free spirit of the fictional Esmeralda.