Edgar
Meaningwealthy spear · Old English
- US rank
- #486
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #50 in 1881
617 babies were named Edgar in the US in 2025. It has dropped 95 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Edgar you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Edgar
Edgar Wallace
British crime writer, journalist and playwright (1875–1932)
Choose Edgar and your child shares a first name with Edgar Wallace, a British crime writer, journalist and playwright. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Edgar, like who?” Edgar Wallace's Wikipedia article is available in 61 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Edgar Wallace on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,769 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Edgar, 617 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Edgar would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryEdgar has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Edgars, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1881, when it ranked #50. Today it's #486, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowEdgar was 2.9× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 948 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 2,769.
- TrendEdgar has slipped 95 places over the last five years and now sits at #486. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedEdgar is most popular in California, where it ranks #248, followed by Arizona (#250) and New Mexico (#311). It's in the top 1,000 in 29 states.
- MeaningIn Old English, Edgar means “wealthy spear”. Our records link it to English and French roots.
About the name Edgar
Edgar is a boy name of English and French origin meaning “wealthy spear”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with E and ending in “-gar”. US birth records list Edgar for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked #50 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #486, with 617 babies.
Origin:English namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,748 | 364 boys |
| 1890s | 2,617 | 382 boys |
| 1900s | 2,332 | 429 boys |
| 1910s | 2,132 | 469 boys |
| 1920s | 1,638 | 611 boys |
| 1930s | 1,124 | 890 boys |
| 1940s | 674 | 1,483 boys |
| 1950s | 430 | 2,325 boys |
| 1960s | 337 | 2,969 boys |
| 1970s | 413 | 2,422 boys |
| 1980s | 622 | 1,607 boys |
| 1990s | 1,141 | 876 boys |
| 2000s | 1,132 | 884 boys |
| 2010s | 616 | 1,623 boys |
| 2020s | 418 | 2,392 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Edgar
What does the name Edgar mean?
Edgar means “wealthy spear” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Edgar?
Edgar has English, French roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Edgar a boy or girl name?
Edgar is a boy name.
How popular is the name Edgar?
Edgar ranked #486 for US boys in 2025, given to 617 babies. Its best year was 1881 (#50).