Edison
Edison was the 870th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 276 babies. Its best year was 1917, when it ranked 538th; the most babies were born in 2018 (522). Over the last ten years it has moved down 235 places. More babies were named Edison in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning son of Edward (surname) · English, Old English
Say it ED-ih-sun /ˈɛdɪsən/
- Rank in 2025
- #870 boys, down 271 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 276boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2018522 babies
- Total since 1880
- 12,738babies recorded
What does the name Edison mean?
Edison is an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Edie (Eddie)', a pet form of Edward and possibly also of the medieval women's name Edith. Edward itself is Old English Eadweard, from ēad 'wealth, fortune' and weard 'guardian'. The name owes its use as a first name chiefly to the inventor Thomas Edison, and it has also been used in Latin America.
ēad (Old English, “wealth, fortune”)weard (Old English, “guardian”)-son (English, “son of”)
How sure is this? Probable. Whether the base was Edward or Edith varies by family.
Related names: Edson, Eddison, Edward.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Edison', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Edward', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Edward', DMNES (Durham University)
Edison popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 216 since 2003.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #870 | 276 |
| 2020 | #599 | 458 |
| 2010 | #894 | 229 |
| 2000 | #1,544 | 78 |
| 1990 | #1,595 | 52 |
| 1980 | #1,873 | 30 |
| 1970 | #1,319 | 40 |
| 1960 | #1,120 | 49 |
| 1950 | #921 | 56 |
| 1940 | #983 | 43 |
| 1930 | #858 | 59 |
| 1920 | #681 | 88 |
| 1910 | #733 | 17 |
| 1900 | #1,365 | 5 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Edison, counting every spelling?
Edison is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #788 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #870 for Edison on its own. Together these spellings went to 306 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | 276 | #870 | 1,674 |
| Eddison | 22 | #4,581 | 118 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Edison?
276 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Edison (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Edison born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 30 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Edison.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Edison?
About 9,800 people born in the US named Edison are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 7 and 24. That makes Edison mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Edison by state
How common Edison was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (3.8×), Wisconsin (3.2×), Michigan (1.9×), Washington (1.6×), Indiana (1.5×). In 19 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Edison: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Edison, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Edison · Sibling names for Edison
Questions about the name Edison
What does Edison mean?
Edison means “son of Edward (surname)” (English, Old English origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Edison?
Edison was the 870th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 276 babies. Its best year was 1917, when it ranked 538th; the most babies were born in 2018 (522). Over the last ten years it has moved down 235 places. More babies were named Edison in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Edison a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Edison in the US.
Where is Edison most popular?
In 2021–2025, Edison was most common in North Dakota (1.00 per 1,000 boys), followed by Minnesota and Wisconsin.