Meaning and Origin of the Name Edna

The name Edna has some heritage in English culture. New parents will want to consider that name for a baby girl. Appreciate the English culture and what the name means for the child. That will give any young girl more appreciation for their English heritage.

The meaning of Edna is possibly an Anglicised version of an old Gaelic name. The original “Eithne” appears quite often in Irish and Scottish heritage. The Anglicised name may be recognised by modern English speakers. That once contributed to the popularity of the name over time as well.

Popularity

Edna was not in the top 100 baby girls’ names in England in 2017. However, in the 1930’s, the popularity of Edna was at a high point and it used to appear in the top 100 girl’s names for English families.

Famous People with the Names

Edna Birch was a popular female character on Emmerdale which is based in a town in the Yorkshire Dales.

Many fictional characters have used the name Edna over the years as well. Edna Mode was a recent fictional character included in the Incredibles. That is a popular movie series and recently had a sequel.

There is also Edna Krabappel, who is a teacher in the Simpsons television show. She is often a foil to the popular character Bart.

Useful Resouces

Discover the meaning and origin of other English girls’ names.