Boy · #232 in 2026

Edward

Edward is an English masculine name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Ēadweard, composed of the elements ēad "wealth, fortune; prosperity" and weard "guardian, protector”.

  • English
  • Polish
Current Rank
#232
Peak Rank
#8 (1924)
Total Babies
1.3M
5-Yr Trend
-21%
1882
First Year
2014
Last Year
1928
Peak Year
#600
Peak Rank
5K
Total Count
123
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Edward

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Edward is an English masculine name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Ēadweard, composed of the elements ēad "wealth, fortune; prosperity" and weard "guardian, protector”.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
  • Polish
Origin & history
The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Saxon England, but the rule of the Norman and Plantagenet dynasties had effectively ended its use amongst the upper classes. The popularity of the name was revived when Henry III named his firstborn son, the future Edward I , as part of his efforts to promote a cult around Edward the Confessor , for whom Henry had a deep admiration.

The Story of Edward

Edward first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 2,364 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1924, when 21,126 Edwards were born — ranking #9 that year. As of 2026, Edward ranks #232 for baby boys with 1,541 births, falling sharply (-21%). In total, more than 1.3M Edwards have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Edward

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Edward. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Edward

Phonetically similar names — useful when Edward is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Edward

What does the name Edward mean?
Edward is an English masculine name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Ēadweard, composed of the elements ēad "wealth, fortune; prosperity" and weard "guardian, protector”.
What is the origin of the name Edward?
Edward has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English, Polish.
How popular is Edward in 2026?
In 2026, Edward ranks #232 among boys' names in the U.S., with 1,541 babies given the name that year.
When was Edward most popular?
Edward reached its peak popularity in 1924, ranking #8 that year with 21,126 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Edward most popular?
Edward has historically been most popular in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Illinois. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Edward.
Is Edward a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Edward is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Edward?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Edward include Thomas, Harry, Lucas. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Edward?
Common variants and related forms of Edward include Ed, Edd, Eddie, Eddy, Ned, Ted. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

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About the name Edward

Edward is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 1.3M births in the dataset. Edward's peak popularity came in 1924 when it ranked #8. Use the chart and map above to compare Edward's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.