The nameEdward
Edward is an Old English royal name meaning "rich guardian". Borne by eight kings of England, it is one of the classic English boys' names.
- Boy's name
- Anglo-Saxon
- Feast day
Meaning
Edward comes from the Old English ead, "wealth, fortune", and weard, "guardian".
Origin
Anglo-Saxon. It is one of the few Old English names that stayed in use after the Norman Conquest, thanks to the cult of Saint Edward the Confessor.
History
Eight kings of England and Britain have been called Edward since the Conquest, from Edward I to Edward VIII. In the United States Edward was in the top ten for boys almost every year from 1895 to 1930. Edward Cullen, hero of the Twilight saga, gave it new visibility in the 2000s.
Did you know?
- In 1936 Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry the American Wallis Simpson.
- Edward Jenner developed the first vaccine, against smallpox, in 1796.
Famous people named Edward
- Edward the Confessor, king of England
- Edward Elgar, composer
- Edward Hopper, painter
- Edward Norton, actor
Popularity of the name Edward
Edward in the United States
Edward was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 198,361 births over the decade, 15% of all recorded babies named Edward. Half of all babies named Edward in the United States were born before 1946, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,753 births a year on average, against 2,357 in the five years before.
Edward in the United Kingdom
Edward was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 23,044 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Edward. Half of all babies named Edward in the United Kingdom were born before 2012, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,597 births a year on average, against 2,259 in the five years before.
Edward in Ireland
Edward in France
Edward in Belgium
Edward in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Edward
Names from the same generation as Edward, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Edward? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Edward with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Edward side by side with the name of your choice.
Edward in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Edward mean?
Edward comes from the Old English ead, "wealth, fortune", and weard, "guardian".
What is the origin of the name Edward?
Anglo-Saxon. It is one of the few Old English names that stayed in use after the Norman Conquest, thanks to the cult of Saint Edward the Confessor.
Is Edward a girl's or a boy's name?
Edward is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Edward?
In 2024, Edward was the 228th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,584 births.
What are the variants of the name Edward?
Variants and related names of Edward include Eddy and Teddy.
What are good sibling names for Edward?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Allison, Savannah, Molly and Ana for a sister, Joel, Martin, Oscar and Nicolas for a brother.
Who are famous people named Edward?
Edward the Confessor, king of England; Edward Elgar, composer; Edward Hopper, painter; Edward Norton, actor.