How to say it
ED · ward
ˈɛd.wɚd
Masculine
Edward
Wealthy guardian
What it means
Old English Eadweard (ēad 'wealth, prosperity' + weard 'guardian'). One of only two Old English names to stay in continuous use after the Norman Conquest, on the strength of Saint Edward the Confessor.
Edward comes from the Old English Eadweard (ēad 'wealth, prosperity, fortune' + weard 'guardian'). The cult of Saint Edward the Confessor (king of England 1042-1066, canonized 1161) kept the name in use after the Norman Conquest, when most Anglo-Saxon names dropped off. Eight English kings have been Edward; Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. Edward Hopper, Edward R. Murrow, and Edward Snowden anchor different 20th-century cultural moments. Nicknames are unusually deep: Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, Ned, all distinct identities.
How to spell Edward
The standard spelling is Edward. Common variants include Eduard, Eduardo, Edouard, but Edward is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #8 in 1912, currently #224 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
The nickname tree is deep: Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, and Ned all serve as Edward shorts. Each reads differently as an adult. Pick early.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Edward the Confessor King of England 1042-1066, canonized 1161, the cult that preserved the name through the Norman period
- Edward Hopper American realist painter, Nighthawks
- Edward Snowden NSA contractor who leaked surveillance documents in 2013
Spelling variants
- Eduard
- Eduardo
- Edouard
Names with the same feeling
See Edward from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Edward mean?
- Old English Eadweard (ēad 'wealth, prosperity' + weard 'guardian'). One of only two Old English names to stay in continuous use after the Norman Conquest, on the strength of Saint Edward the Confessor.
- What does Edward mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Edward means "Wealthy guardian." Edward comes from the Old English Eadweard (ēad 'wealth, prosperity, fortune' + weard 'guardian'). The cult of Saint Edward the Confessor (king of England 1042-1066, canonized 1161) kept the name in use after the Norman Conquest, when most Anglo-Saxon names dropped off. Eight English kings have been Edward; Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. Edward Hopper, Edward R. Murrow, and Edward Snowden anchor different 20th-century cultural moments. Nicknames are unusually deep: Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, Ned, all distinct identities.
- How do you pronounce Edward?
- Edward is pronounced ˈɛd.wɚd. Say it as ED-ward, with the stress on the "ed" syllable.
- How do you spell Edward?
- The standard spelling is Edward. Common spelling variants include Eduard, Eduardo, Edouard.
- Is Edward a boy or girl name?
- Edward is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Edward?
- Edward ranked #224 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.