Boy name · Old English
Edgar
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: wealthy spearEdgar is a boy's name that comes from Old English and means "wealthy spear". It is used in English, German, French and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Wealthy spear
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #486 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Edgar
As a boy's name, Edgar comes from Old English and means "wealthy spear". It is used in English, German, French and Scottish.
Edgar is also a surname: the 3,112th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 11,278 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Edgar on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Edgar on 9 lists.
“Poe's first name, for a brooding, poetic tom”
From Black cat names, literary and famous black cat names
“Wealthy spear; Old English. Borne by a peaceful tenth-century English king”
From Classic boy names, royal and noble boy names
“Wealthy spear; Old English, a tenth-century king of England”
From Cute boy names, sweet vintage boy names
“A gloomy literary name for a poetic skeleton”
From Skeleton names, old-fashioned skeleton names
“A gothic name, after the master of spooky poems”
From Spider names, good spider names
“Rich spear; Old English. Poe's first name, so instantly gothic”
From Gothic names, gothic male names with real meanings
“Rich spear; Old English. A 10th-century English king”
From Names that mean warrior, names that mean spear, sword or arrow
“Old English for wealthy spear; king of Scots from 1097.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish kings, saints and heroes
“Old English for rich spear; also Poe's first name”
From Witch names, male witch and warlock names
How popular is Edgar?
- US rank in 2025
- #486
- 617 babies, 361 per million boys
- Best rank
- #51 in 1881
- Most babies: 2,454 in 2005
- Babies since 1880
- At least 157,214
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 2,744 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2,614 per million |
| 1900s | 2,323 per million |
| 1910s | 2,109 per million |
| 1920s | 1,637 per million |
| 1930s | 1,122 per million |
| 1940s | 659 per million |
| 1950s | 427 per million |
| 1960s | 337 per million |
| 1970s | 412 per million |
| 1980s | 629 per million |
| 1990s | 1,140 per million |
| 2000s | 1,132 per million |
| 2010s | 618 per million |
| 2020s | 418 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #342 | #356 | #357 | #386 | #391 | #412 | #417 | #436 | #458 | #486 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Edgar
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- GerardBrave spear (Germanic, boy)
- GerhardBrave spear (Germanic, boy)
- GertrudeSpear of strength (Germanic, girl)
- AnsgarGod spear (Germanic, boy)
- BerengariaBear and spear (Germanic, girl)
- GeraldPower of the spear (Germanic, boy)
- GeraldinePower of the spear (Germanic, girl)
- GerbergaSpear protection (Germanic, girl)
- HolgerIsland spear (Old Norse, boy)
- RogerFamous spear (Germanic, boy)
Middle names for Edgar
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old English
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
- KnoxRound hill (Old English, boy)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
- LindsayLincoln island (Old English, unisex)
- OsmundGod protector (Old English, boy)
Edgar: common questions
What does the name Edgar mean?
Edgar comes from Old English and means "wealthy spear".
Is Edgar a boy or girl name?
Edgar is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Edgar come from?
Edgar comes from Old English and means "wealthy spear". Today it is used in English, German, French and Scottish.
How popular is the name Edgar?
Edgar ranked #486 in the US in 2025, with 617 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Edgar?
Names spelled like Edgar include Eduard, Egan, Ealar, Edgardo and Edward.
What middle names go with Edgar?
Middle names that flow well with Edgar include Ambrose, Asher, Atticus, Basil and David. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.