Esfir is a variant of Yesfir, itself a Russian form of Esther. Esther most likely originates in Persian language and means "star-like". Some sources also suggest its derivation from Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love. Esther has been one of the most popular feminine given names in the United States for a long time, especially in Jewish families. In the Bible, Esther was a Jewish queen and heroine of the Book of Esther.