Edsel Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Edsel is an Old English name meaning 'prosperous warrior.' It evolved from historical forms like Eadseald and Edsel. The name is linked to themes of wealth and strength but gained notoriety through the unsuccessful Edsel car. It has variants such as Ead and Ed. In modern times, it carries a somewhat negative connotation due to this automotive failure, despite its noble origins. There are notable individuals with the name, including Edsel Ford.
The name Edsel is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Edsel has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Edsel' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 721st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 778th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1214th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2387th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3815th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6843rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8539th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Edsel' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Edsel"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛdzəl/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Edsel is derived from the Old English elements 'ead,' meaning 'wealth, fortune, or prosperity,' and 'sweald,' meaning 'sword.' It can be interpreted to mean 'prosperous warrior.'
Meaning
prosperous warrior
Language Evolution
Eadseald, Eadsel, Edsel
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the early 20th century, especially in the United States, largely due to the introduction of the Edsel automobile by the Ford Motor Company in 1957.
Variants & Derivatives
Ead, Ed, Eddie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Edsel is often associated with the failed Ford automobile brand, leading to a perception of the name as somewhat outdated or linked to failure.
Famous People
Edsel Ford, Edsel P. Hinton
Explore More Edsel Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Edsel"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Edsel"
"Edsel" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 721st of 7545 | 1,273 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 778th of 6773 | 1,196 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1214th of 7552 | 749 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2387th of 10718 | 259 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3815th of 16616 | 216 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6843rd of 24088 | 164 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 8539th of 23106 | 100 |
Regional Popularity of "Edsel" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
34.11% 483rd/1416 |
85.06% 1173rd/1379 |
23.37% 553rd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
41.79% 646th/1546 |
- |
27.11% 638th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
48.09% 1071st/2227 |
- |
42.87% 1223rd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
36.17% 2285th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
57.18% 4267th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Edsel" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Edsel"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Edsel" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.