Fun Facts About the Name Edgar
- An established favorite: Edgar held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 46 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1925.
- More than 157 thousand babies named Edgar: U.S. records list 157,907 babies given the name Edgar from 1880 through 2025. Even 705 girls received the name Edgar - about 1 girl for every 223 boys.
What Does the Name Edgar Mean?
Edgar is an English masculine name derived from the Old English Eadgar. It is a compound of two Old English elements: ead, meaning "wealth," "fortune," or "prosperity" (sometimes also rendered "blessed" or "happy"), and gar, meaning "spear." The literal sense of the compound is therefore "wealth-spear" or "prosperous spear," commonly given as "wealthy spear." The name is an Old English formation rather than a variant of a different parent name, and its modern spelling Edgar reflects the later English development of Eadgar.
Edgar Name History & Origins
The earliest form of the name is the Old English Eadgar, built from the same two-element pattern used in many Anglo-Saxon names, such as Eadward (Edward) and Eadmund (Edmund). The first element, ead-, appears in several Old English royal names; the second, -gar, is the ordinary Old English word for "spear." In Middle English the spelling settled as Edgar, reflecting the later English pronunciation of the first element.
The name belonged to Edgar the Peaceful, king of England from 959 to 975, whose reign is associated with the Benedictine monastic reform led by Dunstan, Æthelwold, and Oswald. After the Norman Conquest, Edgar Ætheling (c. 1051 - c. 1126), a grandson of Edmund Ironside, was briefly put forward as king by opponents of William the Conqueror before submitting to him. The name also entered the Scottish royal line through Edgar, king of Scots from 1097 to 1107, a son of Malcolm III and Margaret; his mother was a sister of Edgar Ætheling.
Edgar appears in Shakespeare's King Lear as the name of Gloucester's legitimate son, a literary use from around 1605 that is much later than the Anglo-Saxon records. The American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849) is another well-known bearer. Romance-language forms such as Italian and Spanish Edgardo come from the same Germanic source.
How Popular is the Name Edgar?
Edgar remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1925. Its highest annual birth count was in 2005, and people born that year turn 21 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | #17,538 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #15,799 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #17,243 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,932 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #9,585 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #13,159 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #8,788 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #6,586 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #9,021 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #6,358 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1994 | #7,242 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #5,050 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1992 | #6,101 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #5,486 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #4,038 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1989 | #4,721 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #4,212 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1987 | #5,374 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1986 | #6,736 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #7,774 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #4,794 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #5,925 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #6,044 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #10,862 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #7,605 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #8,280 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #6,068 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #10,049 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #9,701 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #6,676 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #7,966 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #8,796 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #6,744 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #6,531 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #6,861 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #7,310 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,714 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #4,990 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #7,044 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #5,001 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #6,843 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #6,330 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1941 | #4,087 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,533 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1938 | #3,567 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1936 | #3,816 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #3,501 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #4,450 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #3,189 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1932 | #3,110 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1931 | #2,464 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1930 | #2,130 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #2,780 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1928 | #2,115 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1927 | #2,911 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1926 | #2,379 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1925 | #3,174 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1924 | #2,852 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #3,443 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #3,014 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1921 | #2,668 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1920 | #2,626 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1919 | #2,691 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #2,867 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #2,742 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1916 | #2,711 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #2,751 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1914 | #2,974 | 7 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #3,321 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1912 | #3,091 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| 1910 | #2,514 | 5 | 0.0013% |
| 1898 | #1,775 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1890 | #1,390 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1880 | #856 | 5 | 0.0055% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #486 | 617 | 0.0361% |
| 2024 | #457 | 679 | 0.0396% |
| 2023 | #436 | 714 | 0.0418% |
| 2022 | #418 | 774 | 0.0444% |
| 2021 | #411 | 758 | 0.0434% |
| 2020 | #391 | 789 | 0.0457% |
| 2019 | #386 | 812 | 0.0453% |
| 2018 | #356 | 925 | 0.0510% |
| 2017 | #356 | 939 | 0.0507% |
| 2016 | #342 | 1,013 | 0.0534% |
| 2015 | #317 | 1,114 | 0.0581% |
| 2014 | #302 | 1,180 | 0.0614% |
| 2013 | #286 | 1,210 | 0.0640% |
| 2012 | #269 | 1,317 | 0.0694% |
| 2011 | #243 | 1,468 | 0.0773% |
| 2010 | #218 | 1,644 | 0.0857% |
| 2009 | #201 | 1,908 | 0.0962% |
| 2008 | #195 | 2,064 | 0.1012% |
| 2007 | #168 | 2,420 | 0.1166% |
| 2006 | #171 | 2,392 | 0.1164% |
| 2005 | #168 | 2,453 | 0.1228% |
| 2004 | #171 | 2,385 | 0.1202% |
| 2003 | #172 | 2,320 | 0.1175% |
| 2002 | #175 | 2,195 | 0.1131% |
| 2001 | #161 | 2,376 | 0.1223% |
| 2000 | #177 | 2,072 | 0.1055% |
| 1999 | #173 | 2,036 | 0.1060% |
| 1998 | #167 | 2,047 | 0.1071% |
| 1997 | #161 | 2,115 | 0.1122% |
| 1996 | #148 | 2,359 | 0.1245% |
| 1995 | #152 | 2,320 | 0.1219% |
| 1994 | #147 | 2,393 | 0.1239% |
| 1993 | #148 | 2,262 | 0.1153% |
| 1992 | #148 | 2,207 | 0.1105% |
| 1991 | #142 | 2,267 | 0.1122% |
| 1990 | #143 | 2,206 | 0.1074% |
| 1989 | #147 | 2,105 | 0.1052% |
| 1988 | #173 | 1,616 | 0.0844% |
| 1987 | #169 | 1,603 | 0.0859% |
| 1986 | #230 | 1,020 | 0.0554% |
| 1985 | #258 | 880 | 0.0476% |
| 1984 | #258 | 834 | 0.0462% |
| 1983 | #245 | 896 | 0.0500% |
| 1982 | #262 | 832 | 0.0458% |
| 1981 | #241 | 933 | 0.0521% |
| 1980 | #252 | 888 | 0.0498% |
| 1979 | #262 | 803 | 0.0466% |
| 1978 | #282 | 689 | 0.0420% |
| 1977 | #275 | 711 | 0.0433% |
| 1976 | #283 | 664 | 0.0423% |
| 1975 | #271 | 717 | 0.0459% |
| 1974 | #286 | 652 | 0.0415% |
| 1973 | #299 | 594 | 0.0381% |
| 1972 | #291 | 634 | 0.0391% |
| 1971 | #296 | 674 | 0.0381% |
| 1970 | #303 | 666 | 0.0358% |
| 1969 | #301 | 637 | 0.0356% |
| 1968 | #308 | 596 | 0.0343% |
| 1967 | #303 | 590 | 0.0338% |
| 1966 | #309 | 581 | 0.0326% |
| 1965 | #309 | 603 | 0.0324% |
| 1964 | #291 | 722 | 0.0362% |
| 1963 | #306 | 652 | 0.0321% |
| 1962 | #296 | 693 | 0.0335% |
| 1961 | #294 | 695 | 0.0327% |
| 1960 | #294 | 715 | 0.0335% |
| 1959 | #287 | 752 | 0.0352% |
| 1958 | #280 | 751 | 0.0354% |
| 1957 | #272 | 773 | 0.0358% |
| 1956 | #247 | 851 | 0.0402% |
| 1955 | #233 | 933 | 0.0453% |
| 1954 | #234 | 913 | 0.0448% |
| 1953 | #225 | 897 | 0.0455% |
| 1952 | #224 | 889 | 0.0457% |
| 1951 | #212 | 938 | 0.0498% |
| 1950 | #209 | 937 | 0.0523% |
| 1949 | #211 | 913 | 0.0515% |
| 1948 | #201 | 976 | 0.0556% |
| 1947 | #193 | 1,056 | 0.0577% |
| 1946 | #193 | 909 | 0.0560% |
| 1945 | #180 | 869 | 0.0646% |
| 1944 | #172 | 976 | 0.0716% |
| 1943 | #168 | 1,082 | 0.0758% |
| 1942 | #164 | 1,049 | 0.0760% |
| 1941 | #166 | 989 | 0.0805% |
| 1940 | #164 | 985 | 0.0850% |
| 1939 | #158 | 1,008 | 0.0911% |
| 1938 | #157 | 1,030 | 0.0929% |
| 1937 | #145 | 1,068 | 0.1001% |
| 1936 | #143 | 1,068 | 0.1030% |
| 1935 | #138 | 1,144 | 0.1099% |
| 1934 | #137 | 1,149 | 0.1113% |
| 1933 | #135 | 1,183 | 0.1193% |
| 1932 | #135 | 1,307 | 0.1252% |
| 1931 | #122 | 1,377 | 0.1324% |
| 1930 | #119 | 1,526 | 0.1391% |
| 1929 | #116 | 1,487 | 0.1382% |
| 1928 | #114 | 1,600 | 0.1445% |
| 1927 | #107 | 1,723 | 0.1529% |
| 1926 | #109 | 1,677 | 0.1510% |
| 1925 | #96 | 1,809 | 0.1621% |
| 1924 | #96 | 1,878 | 0.1658% |
| 1923 | #94 | 1,897 | 0.1731% |
| 1922 | #93 | 1,923 | 0.1767% |
| 1921 | #90 | 2,014 | 0.1829% |
| 1920 | #89 | 2,029 | 0.1906% |
| 1919 | #89 | 1,986 | 0.2026% |
| 1918 | #89 | 2,085 | 0.2057% |
| 1917 | #88 | 1,920 | 0.2075% |
| 1916 | #88 | 1,874 | 0.2105% |
| 1915 | #85 | 1,895 | 0.2233% |
| 1914 | #87 | 1,361 | 0.2079% |
| 1913 | #87 | 1,087 | 0.2121% |
| 1912 | #85 | 945 | 0.2198% |
| 1911 | #83 | 486 | 0.2151% |
| 1910 | #80 | 441 | 0.2271% |
| 1909 | #86 | 347 | 0.2116% |
| 1908 | #76 | 360 | 0.2333% |
| 1907 | #81 | 321 | 0.2186% |
| 1906 | #79 | 301 | 0.2261% |
| 1905 | #78 | 315 | 0.2381% |
| 1904 | #80 | 299 | 0.2334% |
| 1903 | #82 | 259 | 0.2172% |
| 1902 | #76 | 307 | 0.2503% |
| 1901 | #71 | 271 | 0.2545% |
| 1900 | #71 | 374 | 0.2485% |
| 1899 | #80 | 249 | 0.2344% |
| 1898 | #72 | 285 | 0.2323% |
| 1897 | #69 | 278 | 0.2465% |
| 1896 | #68 | 306 | 0.2559% |
| 1895 | #64 | 323 | 0.2751% |
| 1894 | #64 | 313 | 0.2704% |
| 1893 | #63 | 310 | 0.2760% |
| 1892 | #67 | 303 | 0.2483% |
| 1891 | #64 | 277 | 0.2737% |
| 1890 | #61 | 338 | 0.3044% |
| 1889 | #60 | 322 | 0.2912% |
| 1888 | #65 | 321 | 0.2656% |
| 1887 | #64 | 266 | 0.2623% |
| 1886 | #61 | 309 | 0.2789% |
| 1885 | #60 | 303 | 0.2811% |
| 1884 | #64 | 290 | 0.2534% |
| 1883 | #58 | 292 | 0.2791% |
| 1882 | #58 | 308 | 0.2709% |
| 1881 | #51 | 312 | 0.3097% |
| 1880 | #61 | 283 | 0.2561% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
