Edith

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Edith

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Edith is the modern form of Eadgyth, an Old English name. It originally meant “Rich in War,” or “Prosperity in War,” from “ead” (prosperity, riches) and “gyth” (strife, war).

History:
Edith was a popular Old English name, common among the Anglo-Saxon royal familes. It was the name of St. Edith (961-984), the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceul. Although it survived the Norman Invasion, Edith suffered a decline during the 16th to 18th centuries, but was revived in the 19th during the general revival of English medieval names.

Pronunciation: EE-dith.

Diminuitves: Edie, Eda.

Alternates: Editha, Edithe, Edyth, Edytha, Edythe.
English (Old): Eadgyth.
French: Édith.
Hawaiian: Ekika.
Hungarian: Edit.
Italian: Editta.
Polish: Edyta.

See also: Eda.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Edith Wharton (1862-1937)
American author.
Edith Sitwell (1887-1964)
British writer.
Edith Södergran (1892-1923)
Swedish-Finnish poet.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Edith Hamilton (1867-1963)
American educator who pushed the classics.
Edith Abbot (1876-1957)
American social worker.
Dame Edith Sitwell (1887-1964)
English poet.

Miscellaneous:
Edith Cavell (1865-1915)
British nurse who was excuted for helping prisoners of war to escape.

Political Figures:
Edith Nourse Rogers (1881-1960)
American legislator.
Edith Cresson (1934-)
Premier of France from 1991 to 1992.

Religious Figures:
Saint Edith (Eadgyth) (962-984)
Daughter of King Edgar.
Edith Stein (1891-1942)
Original name of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

Singers and Entertainers:
Dame Edith Evans (1888-1976)
English actress.
Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
French singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.179 % named Edith
0.008 % named Edythe
0.004 % named Edie
0.003 % named Eda
0.001 % named Edyth

Popularity of Edith:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 206th most popular.
1875: 52nd most popular.
1900-1910: 25th most popular.
1900-1910: 25th most popular.
1910-1920: 29th most popular.
1920-1930: 38th most popular.
1930-1940: 80th most popular.
1940-1950: 126th most popular.
1950-1960: 206th most popular.
1960-1970: 301st most popular.
1970-1980: 489th most popular.
1980-1990: 588th most popular.
1990: 496th most popular.
1991: 472nd most popular.
1992: 514th most popular.
1993: 523rd most popular.
1994: 458th most popular.
1995: 427th most popular.
1996: 554th most popular.
1997: 545th most popular.
1998: 584th most popular.
1999: 583rd most popular.
2000: 569th most popular.
2001: 598th most popular.
2002: 577th most popular.
2003: 682nd most popular.

In France...
1900: 119th most popular.
1910: 111th most popular.
1920: 94th most popular.
1930: 83rd most popular.
1940: 75th most popular.
1950: 72nd most popular.
1960: 69th most popular.
1970: 108th most popular.
1980: 193rd most popular.
1981: 197th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

Popularity of Edythe:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 268th most popular.
1910-1920: 271st most popular.
1920-1930: 341st most popular.
1930-1940: 611th most popular.
1940-1950: 828th most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Edie:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 797th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A

Popularity of Edyth:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 844th most popular.
1910-2000: N/A