Edward is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #31 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Old English — Wealthy guardian
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UK Rank 2024
#31
US Rank #228
About the Name Edward
Edward is holding steady in the rankings at #31. It reached its peak of #23 in 2016 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 29 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
Etymologically, Edward comes from Old English, where it means "Wealthy guardian". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Edward is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #228 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Edward
Unlikely. With around 1,461 UK babies named Edward per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Edward in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Edward has held a stable position around #31 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #23 in 2016 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Edward has Old English origins and means "Wealthy guardian". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Edward include: Edward III — Edward III, also known as Edward of Windsor before accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377.; Edward Teller — Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist and chemical engineer who is known colloquially as "the father of the hydrogen bomb" and one of....
Edward appears in the US top 500 at #228 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
1,461
UK babies named Edward (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.8
In a school of 600
→ Stable
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Edward
Likely around 1 other Edward in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Edward
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Edward, nicknamed "Bertie", was Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne for almost 60 years.
Edward III, also known as Edward of Windsor before accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after the disastrous and unorthodox reign of his father, Edward II.
Edward II, also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne following the death of his older brother Alphonso.
Edward VIII, later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 20 January 1936 until his abdication in December of the same year. Edward was born during the reign of his great-grandmother Queen Victoria as the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V and Queen Mary.
Edward of Woodstock, known as the Black Prince, was the eldest son and heir apparent of King Edward III of England. He died before his father, and so his son Richard II succeeded to the throne instead.
Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist and chemical engineer who is known colloquially as "the father of the hydrogen bomb" and one of the creators of the Teller–Ulam design inspired by Stanisław Ulam. Born in Austria-Hungary in 1908, Teller emigrated to the US in the 1930s, one of the many so-called "Martians", a group of Hungarian scientist émigrés.