Variant of Easton, from Old English meaning 'east-facing settlement.'
Esten most likely derives from the Old English place name Easton, from ēast (east) and tūn (settlement, enclosure, farm) — the eastern farmstead, as opposed to a Weston or Norton. Easton as a surname was carried by hundreds of English families, and like many such surnames it gradually crossed into use as a given name, particularly in America where geographic and occupational surnames became first names with notable frequency. The streamlining of Easton to Esten sharpens the sound and distances it from its place-name origins.
There is also a distinct possibility that Esten connects to the ancient Italian Este dynasty, whose seat in Ferrara produced some of the Italian Renaissance's most celebrated patrons. The House of Este counted among its cultural monuments the poets Ariosto and Tasso, who wrote their masterworks under Este patronage. Whether or not any individual bearer of the name Esten was consciously honoring this lineage, the sound and spelling carry a faint Italian resonance that gives the name unexpected depth.
In modern usage, Esten occupies a pleasing niche: it sounds like Easton, which has risen sharply in popularity, yet is distinct enough to feel uncommon. The final n grounds it without making it heavy; the short e opening keeps it bright. It has the feel of a name that was carefully considered rather than casually assigned — specific without being eccentric, familiar to the ear while new on the page. For parents drawn to Easton but wanting something a step further off the beaten path, Esten offers the same topographic poetry with more room to breathe.