Edward
Meaningwealthy guardian · Old English
- US rank
- #224
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #8 in 1923
1,591 babies were named Edward in the US in 2025. It has dropped 29 places in five years.
Nicknames & spellings
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 Edward you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Edward
Edward Jenner
English physician, scientist and pioneer of vaccination (1749–1823)
Choose Edward and your child shares a first name with Edward Jenner, an English physician, scientist and pioneer of vaccination. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Edward, like who?” Edward Jenner's Wikipedia article is available in 114 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Edward Jenner on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: James Northcote, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,074 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Edward, 1,591 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Edward would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryEdward has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Edwards, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1923, when it ranked #8. Today it's #224, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendEdward has slipped 29 places over the last five years and now sits at #224. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedEdward is most popular in Washington, D.C., where it ranks #74, followed by Maine (#119) and New Hampshire (#121). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Old English, Edward means “wealthy guardian”.
About the name Edward
Edward is a boy name of English origin meaning “wealthy guardian”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with E and ending in “-ard”. US birth records list Edward for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1923, when it ranked #8 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #224, with 1,591 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 21,126 | 47 boys |
| 1890s | 19,311 | 52 boys |
| 1900s | 18,090 | 55 boys |
| 1910s | 18,661 | 54 boys |
| 1920s | 17,910 | 56 boys |
| 1930s | 13,993 | 71 boys |
| 1940s | 11,835 | 84 boys |
| 1950s | 9,358 | 107 boys |
| 1960s | 7,461 | 134 boys |
| 1970s | 5,025 | 199 boys |
| 1980s | 3,303 | 303 boys |
| 1990s | 2,310 | 433 boys |
| 2000s | 1,548 | 646 boys |
| 2010s | 1,342 | 745 boys |
| 2020s | 1,001 | 999 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 Edward
What does the name Edward mean?
Edward means “wealthy guardian” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Edward?
Edward has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Edward a boy or girl name?
Edward is a boy name.
How popular is the name Edward?
Edward ranked #224 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,591 babies. Its best year was 1923 (#8).