Edward
Boy name · #224 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
In 2025, 1,591 baby boys were named Edward, placing it at #224 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #158, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,131 boys born in 2025 was named Edward.
The 145-year story
Edward first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 2,364 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 21,126 boys were named Edward — good for #9 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Edward per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Edward against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Edward in class?
Edward scores 54 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Edward is most common
Geography matters for names, and Edward is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Edwards were CA (152), TX (139), NY (95), FL (80), PA (70). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Edward
Statistically, parents drawn to Edward tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Richard, Leonard, Raymond, Walter, and Louis.
RichardLeonardRaymondWalterLouisWarrenGeorgeRoland
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Edward | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,591 | #224 |
| 2024 | 1,589 | #228 |
| 2023 | 1,737 | #213 |
| 2022 | 1,752 | #216 |
| 2021 | 1,749 | #218 |
| 2020 | 1,952 | #195 |
| 2019 | 2,054 | #192 |
| 2018 | 2,286 | #170 |
| 2017 | 2,328 | #169 |
| 2016 | 2,518 | #162 |
| 2015 | 2,602 | #158 |
| 2014 | 2,591 | #162 |
| 2013 | 2,711 | #145 |
| 2012 | 2,597 | #157 |
| 2011 | 2,671 | #148 |
| 2010 | 2,905 | #136 |
| 2009 | 2,988 | #137 |
| 2008 | 2,796 | #148 |
| 2007 | 2,828 | #145 |
| 2006 | 2,871 | #141 |
| 2005 | 2,975 | #134 |
| 2004 | 3,156 | #129 |
| 2003 | 3,114 | #130 |
| 2002 | 3,244 | #119 |
| 2001 | 3,376 | #113 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Edward a popular boy name?
Edward ranked #224 among boys in 2025 with 1,591 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #158.
When was the name Edward most popular?
Edward peaked in 1924, when 21,126 American boys received the name (ranked #9 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Edward?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,131 newborn American boys was named Edward. It scores 54/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.