According to the Book of Esther, what was Esther’s Hebrew name?

According to the Book of Esther, Esther’s Hebrew name was Hadassah.

Esther 2:7 identifies the heroine as Hadassah, also called Esther. She is an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, and she later becomes queen in the Persian court. The two names reflect her Jewish identity and the name by which she is known in the royal setting.

Hadassah is a Hebrew name associated with the myrtle tree. “Esther” is generally connected with a Persian or Babylonian naming environment, though the exact etymology is debated. The biblical text itself clearly presents both names rather than requiring readers to choose between rival identities.

Esther’s story centers on a plot by Haman to destroy the Jews of the Persian Empire. With Mordecai’s encouragement, she risks approaching the king and helps expose the plan. The festival of Purim commemorates the deliverance described in the book. A common mix-up is confusing Hadassah with other biblical women who have alternate names, but Hadassah is specifically Esther’s Hebrew name.