Boy name · Old English
Edmund
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: rich protectionEdmund is a boy's name that comes from Old English and means "rich protection". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Rich protection
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #1082 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Edmund
As a boy's name, Edmund comes from Old English and means "rich protection". It is used in English.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Edmund on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Edmund on 6 lists.
“Old English for rich protector, for a guardian cat”
From Boy cat names, old-fashioned boy cat names
“Rich protection; Old English. A martyred king of East Anglia”
From Classic boy names, royal and noble boy names
“Rich protection; Old English. East Anglian king and saint, died 869”
From Medieval names and surnames, anglo-Saxon and Old English names
“Rich protection; Old English. Ed or Ned for short”
From Old man names, distinguished old man names
“Rich protection; Old English, a king and saint of East Anglia”
From Unique boy names, rare Old English boy names
“Old English for wealthy protector, steady and kind”
From Unique dog names, old-fashioned names nobody uses for dogs
How popular is Edmund?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,082
- 199 babies, 117 per million boys
- Best rank
- #130 in 1914
- Most babies: 1,145 in 1923
- Babies since 1880
- At least 52,083
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 646 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 761 per million |
| 1900s | 848 per million |
| 1910s | 1,112 per million |
| 1920s | 926 per million |
| 1930s | 567 per million |
| 1940s | 390 per million |
| 1950s | 298 per million |
| 1960s | 225 per million |
| 1970s | 154 per million |
| 1980s | 107 per million |
| 1990s | 70 per million |
| 2000s | 56 per million |
| 2010s | 81 per million |
| 2020s | 100 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,035 | #1,157 | #1,145 | #1,194 | #1,417 | #1,152 | #1,191 | #1,099 | #1,170 | #1,082 |
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.
Nicknames for Edmund
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Edcommon English nickname
- Nedused since the 14th century; may come from mine Ed heard as my Ned
- Eddiecommon English nickname
Other forms of Edmund
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- ÉamonnRich protection (Old English, boy)
- EdmondRich protection (Old English, boy)
- EdmondoRich protection (Old English, boy)
Names spelled like Edmund
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- EdmundoRich protector (Old English, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- AnselmoDivine protection (Germanic, boy)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GerbergaSpear protection (Germanic, girl)
- IngeborgIng's protection (Old Norse, girl)
- LivProtection, shelter (Old Norse, girl)
- SigmundVictory protection (Old Norse, boy)
- AmalabergaBrave protection (Gothic, girl)
- AmparoShelter, protection (Spanish, girl)
Middle names for Edmund
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (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)
Edmund: common questions
What does the name Edmund mean?
Edmund comes from Old English and means "rich protection".
Is Edmund a boy or girl name?
Edmund is mainly a boy's name.
What are nicknames for Edmund?
Common nicknames for Edmund include Ed, Ned and Eddie.
How popular is the name Edmund?
Edmund ranked #1,082 in the US in 2025, with 199 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Edmund?
Forms of Edmund with the same meaning and origin include Éamonn (Irish), Edmond (French) and Edmondo (Italian).
What middle names go with Edmund?
Middle names that flow well with Edmund include Ansel, Chase, Finn, Hugh and Lane. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.