Ed
Ed was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 54th; the most babies were born in 1959 (696). More babies were named Ed in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning short form of Edward and other Ed- names · English, Old English
Say it ED /ɛd/
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedboys
- Babies in 2025
- 0boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1959696 babies
- Total since 1880
- 26,370babies recorded
What does the name Ed mean?
Ed is a short form of Edward, Edgar, Edmund, Edwin and other names beginning with Ed-. These are Old English names built on ēad, "wealth, prosperity": Edward with weard, "guard", Edgar with gār, "spear", Edmund with mund, "protection", Edwin with wine, "friend". Ed has been given as a name in its own right since the 19th century and was most common in the US in the 1940s to 1960s.
ēad (Old English, “wealth, prosperity”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Edward, Edgar, Edmund, Edwin, Eddie, Ned, Ted.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ed', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Edward', DMNES (Durham University)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Edmund', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Ed (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Nicknames for Ed
The usual nicknames for Ed are Eddie. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Ed in the last five years, 6505 were named Eddie, against 3956 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie · also for Edward, Eduardo, Edwin | Traditional | #861 | 1,431 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Eds go by each one.
Ed popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 165 since 1892.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | #6,133 | 14 |
| 2000 | #4,102 | 19 |
| 1990 | #2,720 | 24 |
| 1980 | #1,528 | 40 |
| 1970 | #730 | 127 |
| 1960 | #308 | 644 |
| 1950 | #521 | 164 |
| 1940 | #362 | 250 |
| 1930 | #373 | 232 |
| 1920 | #331 | 309 |
| 1910 | #140 | 229 |
| 1900 | #87 | 297 |
| 1890 | #70 | 262 |
| 1880 | #55 | 310 |
How popular is Ed, counting every spelling?
Ed has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How old are people named Ed?
About 7,900 people born in the US named Ed are alive today, with a median age of 66; half are between 61 and 72. That makes Ed a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ed by state
How common Ed was among boys born in each state in 1957–1961, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Montana (3.9×), Washington (2.7×), Colorado (2.4×), Oregon (2.2×), California (1.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in South Carolina, District of Columbia, Virginia.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ed: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ed, they share its era and feel.
Ed is also a nickname for Edward, Edwin, Edgar and Edmund.
Questions about the name Ed
What does Ed mean?
Ed means “short form of Edward and other Ed- names” (English, Old English origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Ed?
Ed was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 54th; the most babies were born in 1959 (696). More babies were named Ed in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Ed a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Ed in the US.
Where was Ed most popular?
In 1957–1961, Ed was most common in Montana (1.11 per 1,000 boys), followed by Washington and Colorado.