I have a similar thread going in the girls name section, but wanted to start one here too as I feel more people visit this section. My husband and I are seriously considering [name_f]Edith[/name_f] for our baby due this summer (if a girl) What do you guys think of [name_f]Edith[/name_f]? My biggest concern is that people of a certain generation (my parents and others who are old enough to remember [name_f]Edith[/name_f] from the 70s sitcom “All in The Family”) will really dislike the name. I’m worried about [name_m]Archie[/name_m] Bunker references.
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] would probably be [name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f]. And she would be little sister to [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] [name_f]Yvonne[/name_f]. Our back up names (if we chicken out with [name_f]Edith[/name_f] or it doesn’t suit her once she’s here) are [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]/[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] or [name_f]Esme[/name_f]. Probably also with [name_f]Violet[/name_f] in the middle. Please give me your honest opinions, I like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] but I’m not brave and don’t want my little girl made fun of for her name.
I actually like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and wouldnt be concerned about the bunkers.I also like [name_f]Editha[/name_f] and Edithlyn.
TBH, that is one of those names that I just can’t wrap my head around. Unless [name_f]Edith[/name_f] was your grandma, I can’t find any redeeming qualities about it, for me. I think it sounds kind of harsh and boring at the same time. There are so many other beautiful names out there!
With that being said, if it is a name that both you and your hubby like, then heck with what other people say about it.
[name_f]Esme[/name_f] is such a pretty name… and I like [name_f]Lydia[/name_f].
I like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and think the the Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u] character will be more likely to come to mind than All in the Family character. I wouldn’t let that stop you from using it. I definitely don’t think you need to worry about teasing because even if grandma or grandpa don’t like the name, that generation usually has the tact not to tease the child about it. (I have a name that has negative associations for some people and have found this to be true)
I am one who also can’t wrap my mind around the resurgence of [name_f]Edith[/name_f] - it’s an old-lady name that can’t sound anything but old-lady to me, and unlike other old-lady names like [name_f]Dolores[/name_f] it doesn’t have a pretty sound to my ear - but she definitely won’t be made fun of for her name. I know a little [name_f]Edith[/name_f] ([name_f]Edie[/name_f], which is just the ice cream to me), and it won’t seem weird or old to her generation. If you love it, use it - it’s the kind of name I don’t like but also doesn’t make me think anything bad about the parents other than that we have different taste.
Personally, I think [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is lovely and interesting.
I like [name_f]Edith[/name_f]. It has a stylish vintage feel and a cute nickname of [name_f]Edie[/name_f], which reminds me of [name_f]Edie[/name_f] Sedgwick. [name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f] is beautiful.
I love [name_f]Edith[/name_f]. Its classic and pretty and charming. I also wouldn’t worry about the old TV show reference. I have a [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] and it was only after she was born someone said to me “would you not be worried about the link to [name_m]Buff[/name_m] the Vampire Slayer character” and honestly not one person has ever said anything other than WHAT a fab name.
Go for it. It’s lovely.
Traditionally, I have not been a fan of [name_f]Edith[/name_f], but my husband had a co-worker by the name [name_f]Edith[/name_f], and she turned it into a beautiful and classy name. (This person’s looks and demeanor were very similar to [name_f]Condoleezza[/name_f] [name_u]Rice[/name_u].) I enjoyed calling her [name_f]Edith[/name_f], and found the long E appealing as it is in [name_f]Eve[/name_f] and [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. I think your daughter will ‘make the name’ if you decide to use it.
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] is vintage but very serious and studious in my mind. I like the nickname [name_f]Edie[/name_f] a lot and wouldn’t worry about teasing. That said, I much prefer [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]!
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] is strong yet sweet ( not harsh at all), kind of feels like a nicer variation of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]…
Reminds me of the girl from Despicable Me movies, all the girls in the movie have great “grandma” names
[name_f]Margo[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
… If you haven’t seen the movie, maybe watch it so you can hear how you like the name in conversation 
(The new [name_m]Alvin[/name_m] and the Chipmunks show has a couple nice girl names too [name_f]Jeanette[/name_f], and [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]… )
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] is absolutely lovely. It’s wonderfully vintage, very mature but in a way that will make a small child with the name sound very intelligent instead of the name seeming like too much of an adult name.
Here’s what I think of when I hear [name_f]Edith[/name_f]:
one |two |three
One thing [name_f]Edith[/name_f] always makes me think of, is dark wood. Wether that’s dark wooden floors in an old house or a dark, rich forest, I associate a dark but warm brown with [name_f]Edith[/name_f].
This is from a thread I had going on a while ago in which I described people’s favourite names:
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] is 9 years old and quite the serious but very friendly little girl. She has several porcelain dolls that were passed down to her and she loves to play with them but she is always very careful and would not take them out when she had a friend over. Most of the time you could see her dark brown eyes skimming piano notes, either [name_m]Mozart[/name_m]’s or her own, the latter which her little hands always erase and re-scribble and then play on the grand piano in the music room, as she is almost never perfectly happy with her work and always finds room to improve. When she is not playing piano or with her dolls, one would probably find her with a drawing pad on her knees, looking out the window and drawing the English country-side or sitting at her desk, writing stories.
Also this, as it was a sibset of [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] ([name_f]Edie[/name_f] and [name_u]Teddy[/name_u]):
[name_u]Teddy[/name_u] or [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] nn [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] is a 7 year old boy with brown curls and adventurous brown eyes, who spends his time in the forest behind his house, climbing trees, building houses out of sticks and leaves, getting his wool jumper full of dirt and at night, goes home to get his family, tea and blankets and then falls asleep to one of his father’s stories while cuddled up with his mother in one of his handmade teepees.
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] as a sister to this [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] would be his little sister who looks very much like him and helps him build teepees in the woods, and even makes him build one for her dolls to have their tea party in. Or she could basically be just like [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] (this is the important part for you ;)).
I hope you got something out of this as I really love the idea of [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] together!
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] is gorgeous!
She has a warm, serious feel. I would imagine a woman named [name_f]Edith[/name_f] to be the kind of friend you can talk to about anything, who listens with care and speaks up on your behalf, who lets you know when you’re being stupid in a loving way. Quiet and humorous, loyal, inviting, sweet and enchanting are all words I would use to describe the kind of person I see when I think of [name_f]Edith[/name_f].
I don’t think for a moment that you will regret choosing [name_f]Edith[/name_f]. And I don’t think she will be teased at all, children these days are so accustomed to strange names. It’s adults who might say something, but they should really know better and are worthy of being ignored if they make comments. I imagine you’ll get some ‘Strange what comes back in style these days’ comments, but nothing malicious.
I think its very old-lady for me. Im not sure its time for a comeback yet
@opheliaflora @dearest
Thank you!! Both of you have simply gorgeous imagery! Opheliaflora, it’s funny you mention that [name_f]Edith[/name_f] reminds you of warm brown, my [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] has brown hair and golden hazel eyes, so it’s very likely her sister would too. I’m happy to hear most of you like [name_f]Edith[/name_f], as I was worried it would sound too harsh next to softer, more feminine [name_f]Isobel[/name_f].
The only thing I’m not completely sold on it the meaning of [name_f]Edith[/name_f]. I love name meanings. So for that reason [name_f]Edith[/name_f] (hubbys favorite) is still competing with [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] (my favorite, absolutely lovely meaning)
[name_m]Even[/name_m] though I have been watching Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u] and follow and instagram account of a person who has a daughter named [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and both Ediths are blonde (or at least don’t have dark hair), [name_f]Edith[/name_f], to me has always been a child with dark eyes, brown curls and a bow in her hair (think Edwardian era, though the bow would be slightly smaller than it would have been back then).
[name_m]Even[/name_m] though I have been watching Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u] and follow and instagram account of a person who has a daughter named [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and both Ediths are blonde (or at least don’t have dark hair), [name_f]Edith[/name_f], to me has always been a child with dark eyes, brown curls and a bow in her hair (think Edwardian era, though the bow would be slightly smaller than it would have been back then).
Also, I don’t think [name_f]Edith[/name_f]'s meaning is bad at all, many wars have been fought for noble causes, against oppression, for the freedom of the people.
Also wanted to add: https://de.pinterest.com/pin/189151253075105735/ - this could be Edith as I imagine her (even though it’s just a painting).
This is true, however it’s not the sort of meaning that I personally find attractive. Although it doesn’t turn me off the name completely.
Have you checked around on differ et sires or books for the meaning of [name_f]Edith[/name_f]?? I did and found a few sites saying “riches, fortune”
From the Old English name Eadgyð, derived from the elements ead “wealth, fortune” and gyð “war”. It was popular among Anglo-[name_m]Saxon[/name_m] royalty, being borne for example by [name_m]Saint[/name_m] Eadgyeth;, the daughter of [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Edgar[/name_m] the Peaceful. The name remained common after the [name_m]Norman[/name_m] conquest. It became rare after the 15th century, but was revived in the 19th century.
Wow! I had checked other sites but everything I looked at had a similar meaning as Nameberry cited. Thank you, that’s very interesting! I love 15th century/Anglo-[name_m]Saxon[/name_m] history so this is very cool to me.
Two sites I found 