Edward is a name of English origin, derived from the Old English word "Eadweard", which is composed of two elements: "ead" meaning wealth or prosperity, and "weard" meaning guardian or keeper. Therefore, the name Edward translates to "wealth guard" or "prosperous guardian".
The name Edward has a rich history, with several notable figures throughout history bearing this name. The most famous among them is King Edward I of England, also known as "Edward Longshanks", who ruled from 1272 to 1307. He was responsible for the conquest of Wales and the signing of the Statutes of Rhuddlan, which united Wales with England.
Another significant historical figure named Edward is Edward the Confessor, who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. He is known for his piety and kindness, and his reign was marked by relative peace and stability.
The name Edward has also been popular among royalty throughout history. Other notable bearers of the name include King Edward II of England, who ruled from 1307 to 1327, and King Edward III of England, who ruled from 1327 to 1377. Additionally, several princes and other members of European royal families have borne the name Edward.
The name Edward has also been popular in literature and pop culture. Some famous characters named Edward include Edward Rochester from Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre", and Edward Cullen from Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance series "Twilight".
In terms of popularity, the name Edward has seen ups and downs over the years. It was particularly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but its usage declined in the mid-20th century. However, it has seen a resurgence in recent years and is currently one of the top 500 names for boys in the United States.
Overall, the name Edward is steeped in history and tradition, with a strong association with royalty and power throughout the centuries. Its meaning, "wealth guard" or "prosperous guardian", suggests stability, protection, and prosperity, making it a timeless and enduring choice for parents looking for a meaningful and distinctive name for their son.
Based on the provided statistics, we can see that the number of births with the name Edward has varied significantly over time in the United States.
From 1882 to around 1920, the number of births with the name Edward fluctuated between a low of 5 births in certain years to a peak of 93 births in 1922. However, after 1922, there was a noticeable decline in the popularity of the name Edward, with the number of births dropping below 60 each year from 1924 onwards.
The most notable periods of popularity for the name Edward were during World War I and its aftermath, with peaks occurring in 1917 (61 births), 1918 (63 births), and 1919 (65 births). This trend continued into the early 1920s, reaching a high of 93 births in 1922.
However, from around 1930 onwards, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name Edward. By the 1940s and 1950s, the number of births with this name remained below 60 each year, with some notable exceptions such as 70 births in 1956.
The trend continued into the 1960s and 1970s, with the number of births with the name Edward fluctuating between around 50 to 80 each year. However, after the 1970s, there was a significant drop in popularity, with fewer than 40 births per year from 1986 onwards.
From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, the number of births with the name Edward continued to decline, reaching an all-time low of just 5 births in 2003. Since then, there has been a slight uptick in popularity, with around 7 to 10 births per year from 2004 to 2014.
In conclusion, while the name Edward was popular among parents in the United States during certain periods in history, particularly around World War I and its aftermath, it has since fallen out of favor. The total number of births with the name Edward over time is 5361.