Edward is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Edward means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Edward across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Edward has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Edward is a boy name of Old English origin meaning “wealthy guardian”. borne by several English kings.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 1,308,955 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 52,791 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 3,082 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 509 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 10,393 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 5,286 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Edward per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1924 (21,223/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2015 (2,593/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1964 (425/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1974 (160/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2013 (28/yr).
Edward has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1924, when it ranked #15 nationally (given to 21,223 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1920s.
Eduardo · Edwardo · Woodward · Edwarda · Eduard · Edword · Eddward · Edawrd
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