Exploring the Name Edward: What's in a Name?

What Does Edward Mean?

Edward is a name of Old English origin that was made popular by famous rulers of England. It means ‘Rich Guardian’ and has a history of Kings, nobles, and prominent politicians.

What is the Origin of the Name Edward?

Edward is the Middle English variant of the Old English name Ēadward, with ‘ēad’ meaning wealth or fortune and ‘w(e)ard’ meaning guardian or protector. Four of the most famous kings of England were all named Edward and ruled in a succession of each other. Edward became a popular name due to the successful reign of these monarchs ⁽¹⁾.

How Popular is the Name Edward?

Edward was a very common name in the past. It was at the height of its popularity during the 80s and 90s, ranking in the top 10 names used. However, the name has decreased in popularity in recent years and now falls in the bottom 200 ⁽²⁾.

How Do I Pronounce Edward?

Edward is a fairly common name and most people don’t have much trouble with it. You pronounce Edward as ‘ed-werd.’

Is Edward a Boy or Girl Name?

Edward has been used as a girl’s name on and off throughout the years. However, it is more commonly used as a boy’s name.

Variations of Edward

Edward is what’s used by most people but some cultures have their unique variations of the name.

These variations include:

• Eduardo (Spanish)
• Duarte (Portuguese)
• Édouard (French)
• Edoardo (Italian)
• Odoardo (Italian)
• Eduard (German, Dutch, Czech, Romanian)
• Edvard (Scandinavian)

Nicknames for Edward

Edward was one of the most common names in the past so a few nicknames were created to differentiate it.

These nicknames include:

• Ed
• Eddie
• Eddy
• Ted
• Ned

Similar Names to Edward

Because Edward is so common, here are some names that are similar in meaning:

• Albert
• Alexander
• Alfred
• Andrew
• Anthony
• Arthur
• Benjamin
• Brian
• Christopher
• Edmund
• Edwin
• Eric
• Ernest
• Frederick
• George
• Gerald
• Harold
• Harry
• Henry
• Hugh

Middle Names for Edward

Every first name should have a middle name that sounds nice and meshes well. Here are some recommended middle names to go with Edward:

• Abel
• Adan
• Alberto
• Alvaro
• Andres
• Antonio
• Benedicto
• Benjamin
• Ciro
• Dayan
• Demetrio
• Domingo
• Dudley
• Edil
• Emilio
• Enrique
• Estaban
• Fabricio
• Favio
• Frans

Sibling Names for Edward

If you decide that Edward is the perfect name for your little angel and have more kids after, here are some options for sibling names that will fit beautifully.

For brother:

• Abner
• Andrew
• Bertram
• Franklin
• Frederick
• Gregory
• George
• Gerald
• Henry
• Simon

For sister:

• Alma
• Anne
• Araminta
• Bianca
• Celia
• Esther
• Evangeline
• Frances
• Isabel
• Olive

Famous People Named Edward

No shortage of rulers, leaders, and celebrities share the name Edward. Here is a list of such people:

• Edward I of England: King of England (1272-1307)
• Edward II of England: King of England (1307-1327)
• Edward III of England: King of England (1327-1377)
• Edward VII: King of the United Kingdom.
• Edward the Confessor: Last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
• Edward Albee: American playwright.
• Edward Louis Bernays: American theorist, pioneer of public relations.
• Edward Britten (AKA Benjamin Britten): English composer, conductor, and pianist.
• Edward Coke: English barrister, judge, and politician.
• Edward Drinker Cope: American zoologist, paleontologist, comparative anatomist, herpetologist, and ichthyologist.
• Prince Edward: Earl of Wessex.
• Edward Elgar: English composer.
• Edward Ellington: American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra.
• Edward Morgan Forster: English fiction writer, essayist, and librettist.
• Edward Gibbon: English historian, writer, and member of parliament.
• Edward Heath: Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• Edward Hyde: English statesman, lawyer, diplomat, and historian.
• Edward Meyrick: English schoolmaster and amateur entomologist.
• Eddie Murphy (Given name Edward): American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and singer.
• Ed Sheeran (Given name Edward): English singer-songwriter.

Edward in Popular Culture

If you are a fan of pop culture, there are plenty of well-known characters from movies, TV, comics, books, and video games who also share the name Edward. Here is a list of some you might know:

• Ed, Edd n Eddy: Characters in a cartoon show by the same name.
• Edward: From Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn.
• Edward: FromCamp Lazlo.
• Prince Edward: From the Disney film Enchanted
• Edward Bloom: From the book, film, and musical Big Fish
• Edward the Blue Engine: From Thomas & Friends.
• Eddie Brock: Venom from Marvel Comics.
• Edward Carnby: From the Alone in the Dark series.
• Edward Cullen: From the Twilight “saga”.
• Edward Elric: From the anime/manga Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
• Edward Ferrars: From the novel Sense and Sensibility
• Edward James Kenway: From the game Assasin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
• Edward Lewis: From the film Pretty Woman
• Edward Mars: From the TV series Lost
• Edward Meechum: From the TV show House of Cards.
• Edward “Whitebeard” Newgate: From the anime/manga One Piece
• Edward Nigma: The Riddler from Batman.
• Edward Richtofen: A character from the Call of Duty games.

Edward FAQs

Here are two questions that we’ve found some people like to ask about the name Edward.