Esmerlda is likely a spelling variant of Esmeralda, meaning emerald.
Esmerlda is most likely a spelling variant of Esmeralda, the Spanish word for emerald. That gives the name an immediate jewel association, along with the color green, which has long made the original name feel vivid, romantic, and richly ornamental.
With the altered spelling, Esmerlda feels slightly rarer and more personal than Esmeralda. It still carries the same lush, gemstone elegance, but the missing vowel gives it a more compressed visual profile. The name sounds decorative and warm, with a Spanish-inflected beauty that feels both classic and somewhat individualized.