
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Persian
Meaning: “Good looking, beautiful.”
Pronunciation: (VASH-tee)
Nicknames: Vash
Detail: In the book of Esther, in the bible, Vashti is the wife of King Ahasuerus. The king holds a banquet for his men, and Vashti holds a separate banquet for the women. On the seventh day, when the king was “merry with wine,” he sends for Vashti to come before him and his guests, to show off her beauty. Vashti refuses to come, and the king becomes angry. He asks his advisers how Vashti should be punished for her disobedience. His adviser tells him that Vashti has wronged not only the king, but also all of the husbands of Persia, whose wives may be encouraged by Vashti’s actions to disobey their husbands. He encourages the king to dismiss Vashti and find a new queen. The king then chooses Esther to replace Vashti as queen.