Edythe
A girl's name of Old English origin with 13,872 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Old English, variant of Edith.
Edythe is a girl's baby name of Old English origin, a Victorian-era spelling of Edith meaning 'prosperous in war' or 'strife for wealth,' from the Anglo-Saxon Eadgyð combining ead (riches, prosperity) and gyð (strife, war).
Edythe is the ornate Victorian spelling of Edith, at its peak during the late 19th century when the -ythe ending was fashionable. Saint Edith of Wilton (961-984 CE) was an Anglo-Saxon princess who chose the convent over the crown, making Edythe a name with both royal and saintly heritage.
EtymologyShow more
Edythe first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1880. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Old English classification suggests a path from old english linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Edythe has 126+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 37 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 101 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 28 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 34 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 117 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 352 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 622 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 933 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 1,333 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 3,826 | — |
| 1910s | 4,055 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 1,275 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 810 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 344 | — |
The Story of Edythe
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1918, Edythe is a name steeped in history. Girls named Edythe are most likely born between 1908 and 1928.
How rare is Edythe?
Only about 1 in every 514,286 babies born in 2024 was named Edythe — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 4,055 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Edythe by the numbers
- Would fill 289 school buses
- Meeting one Edythe per day would take 38 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(126 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | #12478 |
| 2023 | 9 | #10520 |
| 2022 | 6 | #14050 |
| 2021 | 9 | #10504 |
| 2020 | 6 | #13888 |
| 2019 | 10 | #9940 |
| 2018 | 8 | #11698 |
| 2017 | 9 | #10930 |
| 2016 | 12 | #9036 |
| 2015 | 7 | #13392 |
| 2014 | 15 | #7776 |
| 2013 | 13 | #8718 |
| 2012 | 8 | #12553 |
| 2011 | 11 | #9916 |
| 2010 | 8 | #12625 |
| 2009 | 5 | #18095 |
| 2007 | 5 | #18439 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14006 |
| 2005 | 5 | #17249 |
| 2001 | 6 | #14045 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024