The name Esselen is uncertain. One theory is that it refers to the name of a major native village, possibly "Exse'ein", or the place called "Eslenes" (said to be near the current site of the Mission San Carlos). The village name may be derived from a tribal location known as Ex'selen, "the rock," which is in turn derived from the phrase "Xue elo xonia eune", "I come from the rock." "The Rock" may refer to the tall promontory, visible for miles both up and down the coast, on which the Point Sur Lighthouse is situated.