Name of the day: Edie
Sometimes the shorter the better is the way to go when choosing the perfect name for your darling daughter. Enduring Edie is a rare option as a stand alone name, yet she stands to be a strong suiter with the familiar Ellie and Evie clans of today.
Edie had a very minor run on her own in the early 60’s when she entered the top 1,000 in 1959 at #873 and fluctuated until 1965 where she disappeared from the charts completely. In 2020, 127 girls were given Edie as a formal stand alone name.
Edie is commonly recognized as a nickname for Edith and occasionally Eden but in modern day is not often found as a formal name on it’s own when comparing statistics. On the opposite end of the spectrum however, the formal name Edith has never departed from the top 1,000. Edith peaked at #26 in 1894 and holds a spot at #473 with 643 births as of 2020.
Formal Favorite: Edith
The name Edith derives from the Old English word Eadgyd combining the words ead meaning “Prosperity, Wealth or Fortune” and gyd meaning “War”. There have been countless Edith’s throughout history and pop culture that make both Edith and Edie equally feel fresh and modern.
Fit for Royalty
Originally derived from the name Eadgyo, the name became Anglo- Saxon royalty. For instance, Edith, also known as Eadgyth, of Wilton the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceful. Other royal Edith’s include,
Edith of Wessex - 10th century Queen of England from her marriage to Edward the Confessor
Ealdgyth (Edith) was the daughter of Elfgar, Earl of Mercia
Edith of England was the Queen of Germany by marriage to King Otto I
Matilda, Queen of Scotland was originally named Edith at her christening
Presidential First Ladies
First Lady Edith Kermit Roosevelt was the wife of Theodore Roosevelt who held presidency from 1901-1909. She was also the First Lady of New York from January 1899- December 1990 when Theodore held the position of State Governor.
Edith Wilson was also a presidential first lady through her marriage to the president Woodrow Wilson. The 28th president of the United States held office from March 1913 - March 1921.
Major historical figures named Edith include…
Edith Wharton - First female to win a Pulitzer Prize for literature
Edith Abbott - Educational Economist and Social Work pioneer became the first first female school dean in the U.S
Edith Evans - British actress most notably for her role in The Importance of Being Earnest
Edith Holden - British artist and art teacher became known for her publications in the bibliography The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
Edith Frank - The mother of Holocaust diarist Anne Frank
Edith Cavell - British nurse whom cared for soldiers during WWI and helped Allied forces escape from Belgium
Edith Falco - American actress most notable for her role on The Sopranos
Edith Bouvier Beale - American socialite and first cousin to Jacqueline Onassis
Edith Head - American costume designer won eight Academy awards from 1949-1973 making her the most awarded woman in Academy history
Pop Culture
The names Edie and Edith have not shied away from the pop culture spotlight either. Both names can be found interchangeably in various movie and television references.
Edie Adams - American actress, comedian and impersonator
Edie Britt - Character on the television series Desperate Housewives
Edie Athens - Character in the movie Be Cool played by actress Uma Thurman
Edie Grant - Character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show played by actress Priscilla Alden Morrill
Great Aunt Edie - Fictional Character on the show the Middle played by actress Jeanette Miller
Edith Cushing - Character in the gothic romance film Crimson Peak
Edith Bunker - Archie’s Wife on the television show All In The Family
Lady Edith Crawley - Middle sister of the hit drama series Downton Abbey
Edith Gru - One of the young girls in the movie Despicable Me alongside sisters Agnes and Margo
E.D.I.T.H - Acronym for Marvel’s Iron Man character Tony Stark’s A.l. glasses that stands for “Even Dead I’m The hero”
Celebrity Offspring
Edith gained a bit of buzz in 2015 when two famous actresses chose this vintage classic for their own daughters.
Edith Vivian Patricia Upton - Daughter of actress Cate Blanchett adopted in March 2015
Edie Righton - Daughter of actress Keira Knightley born in May 2015
Name days for Edith
In Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries some names are often celebrated on specific days of the year similar to a birthday. The name Edith is celebrated on five different days in various parts of the world.
January 13 - Czech Republic
May 14 - Estonia
July 5 - Latvia
September 16 - France, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland
October 31 - Sweden
Edie is a vintage find that is in need to be rediscovered and while maybe a modern moniker beyond traditional Edith will do just that.
Formal name options for Edie starting with the letter “E’
Edna
A Hebrew originated name meaning “pleasure and delight”.
Enid
Found in an Arthurian Legend, this welsh name will carry such a kindhearted spirit thought this journey called life.
Edana
This feminine form of Adien is also the name of a 7th century Irish monastic saint.
Elodie
This popular El- name is highly sought after in England but is slowly making her way to the U.S. as well.
Eluned
A 5th-century Saint name ties to Welsh origins is also associated with the name Lynette. In comparison to Eluned’s favorable nickname Luna; Edie would make for a pleasant surprise and an even better honor name.
Eilidh
This Scottish variant on Eleanor is traditionally pronounced Ay-Lee, yet looks like it can easily be shortened to Edie quite effortlessly.
Evadne
Noted in Greek mythology, Evadne is ever-so appealing alongside Daphne and Penelope.
Edison
A predominantly masculine name may be able to be persuaded to the girls side as “boy names on girls” seems to be a rising trend. Edison is not far off from unisex Emerson and still sounds more feminine than gender-converting James.
Endellion
This Cornish Saint name made a fiery headline in 2010 after the birth of then-British Prime Minister’s fourth daughter Florence Rose Endellion.
Edelweiss
A botanical name made familiar by the sweet lullaby from The Sound of Music.
Edwina
Slightly more off-guard option in comparison to male counterpart Edwin. There is also the option of variant Edina.
Emerald & Esmeralda
This birthstone of May is commonly found in the ‘Emmy” category but can make a shiny option for sweet Edie too. For something even longer, try Esmeralda, the Spanish word for Emerald.
Eurydice
Another Greek mythological reference, Eurydice was the daughter of Apollo.
Formal Names for Edie beyond the letter “E”
Andromeda
Most likely on of the rarest names on our list, Edie feels spunkier yet obtainable to mini equivalents Andi or Romy.
Adelaide & Edeline
The nickname Edie will provide a surprising element to this noble German name which currently ranks in the top 300. To make this pet form more obvious to the eye try the variation Edeline.
Delphine & Diedre
These delightful “D” names may not be an obvious way to achieve Edie but I can see it as an option nonetheless.
Frieda & Frederica
If Freddie is too masculine for your taste these two fabulous finds could easily be shortened to Edie for a more feminine approach.
Kennedy, Melody & Winifred
With these well known names ending in “edy” the nickname of Edie doesn’t feel like too large of a stretch to get.
Mairead
The nickname Edie would make this Irish variant of Margaret more wearable in the United States.
Meredith
With Edith embedded in the name, Edie becomes totally tangible.
Mercedes
Commonly associated with the luxury vehicle, the history behind this formal name goes beyond the brand. For more car inspired names, check out our blog: Get It In Gear.
Mildred
Mildred has the same vintage feel as Edith yet is both less popular and provides a gentler meaning; “gentle strength”.
Wednesday
Often accredited next to the surname Addams, Wednesday is wearable any day of the week while the nickname Edie would provide a more down to earth prospective on the name.
With a classroom full of Callie’s, Ivy’s and Millie’s I think Edie will fit in nicely while still going against the grain and paving her own path. Especially with a meaning of “Prosperous in war”, it is clear Edie makes a heroic choice that will guarantee your daughter will grow up to be a strong-willed warrior all her own.