A complaint I’ve read occasionally about [name]Edward[/name] is that the name has been “ruined” by Twilight. Today I took a look at [name]Edward[/name]'s popularity over the past ten years (US stats) and discovered Twilight has had very little effect on [name]Edward[/name]'s popularity. Here are the number of births per year.
2001: 3371
2002: 3239
2003: 3105
2004: 3144
2005: 2968 – year Twilight was first published
2006: 2867
2007: 2819
2008: 2777 – year Twilight movie was released
2009: 2977
2010: 2885
2011: 2642
[name]Do[/name] you think the complaint that Twilight has “ruined” the name [name]Edward[/name] is valid? Twilight isn’t the next [name]Star[/name] Wars or [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]. Kids probably won’t be watching Twilight movies ten years from now. [name]Will[/name] kids ten years from now associate the name [name]Edward[/name] with Twilight… or will that only be the moms? I ask because I recently moved Edwards (my grandmother’s maiden name) to my first name list for a boy, and thought it good inspiration to start a conversation about [name]Edward[/name].
[name]General[/name] opinions on the name [name]Edward[/name] are appreciated too. What type of guy do you imagine when you hear the name [name]Edward[/name]? What nicknames would you use? [name]Do[/name] you think Edwards (with the “s”) will be too troublesome? etc
I never thought [name]Edward[/name] was ruined, but I personally wouldn’t use it because all of my friends would probably automatically think Twilight. Same with [name]Isabella[/name].
The only names I can think of that “can’t” be used without being strongly associated with the books/movies are the ones that stand out like [name]Hermione[/name], Yoda, Anakin, [name]Katniss[/name], etc… They are odd names to begin with as well.
But [name]Harry[/name] and [name]Ron[/name] are still used today and are perfectly fine.
[name]Edward[/name] makes me think of a gentleman. Someone who has class and is sophisticated.
I admit I think of Twilight first, but obviously [name]Edward[/name] was on the rise before Twilight, and it doesn’t seem to be too affected by the series. It is a classic, handsome name, and I’ve considered it as a MN before. I would love to see it more used, although I admit I like the quirkier [name]Edmund[/name] and [name]Edison[/name] more, personally.
[name]Edward[/name] is a family name for me. It is the middle name for my grandfather, uncle, cousin, and my cousin’s son It will probably be in my family for many more generations. I think it is definitely usable. Some people your age will ask if it’s from Twilight, but you can just tell them it’s a family name and that will be the end of it. Your son’s peers will have no idea where the name comes from. If it were me, I would just use [name]Edward[/name] without the s. Edwards sounds too much like a surname, or like there is more than one. I also prefer [name]Edmund[/name], but that’s just my style. I like [name]Ned[/name], [name]Ed[/name], [name]Eddie[/name], and [name]Ward[/name] for nicknames.
I go to school with an [name]Edward[/name], occasional nn of [name]Ed[/name]. [name]Even[/name] in the middle of the Twilight fad he doesn’t get teased - I have never heard anyone associate him with Twilight. It’s a usual enough name that any associations it has won’t stick for long, unlike [name]Katniss[/name] and [name]Renesmee[/name].
Actually, do you know what I think of before Twilight? This show I used to watch when I was younger: “[name]Ed[/name], [name]Edd[/name] n [name]Eddy[/name].”
I don’t think it’s ruined at all, I mean looking at those stats it’s hardly shot up in popularity has it?! People just make the association because the film is relevant to today but give it a couple of years and no one will think of Twilight because there will be something else in it’s place and a new name to “avoid.”
Annakin will forever be associated with [name]Star[/name] Wars because it’s an unusual name that people only heard of because of the film. Names like [name]Harry[/name], [name]Edward[/name], [name]Jacob[/name] & [name]Isabella[/name] will last a lot longer than any film so it shouldn’t put people off considering the name. Especially something like [name]Edward[/name], which is hardly popular.
I don’t think Twlight has had any impact upon the name in the UK either; [name]Edward[/name] has moved between #42-46 since 1996 but I’m interested to see this info for 2011. [name]Jacob[/name] has slightly gained in popularity but was still top 20, while [name]Isabella[/name] has rose steadily - probably helped along by Twilight but not ridiculously so.
[name]Harry[/name] shot up in 2000/2001 to #6 when [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] first came on the scene, then dropped out of the top 10 and back up to #5 in 2006and has rose slowly to #3 so I don’t really think [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] has had that much impact either.
Anyway, back to [name]Edward[/name]! I don’t mind it - it’s pretty traditional over and therefore edging on bland. However, seeing how unpopular it is in the US I think it would be a very charming choice and I love the family connection it has for you.
personally [name]Bella[/name] makes me think of twilight but not edward. I don’t think kids will link the two up in ten years time! At least not in a bad way - it’s not like naming your kid reneesme or katniss.
I love [name]Edward[/name] and the Twilight association means nothing to me. [name]Edward[/name] would definitely be somewhere in my top 10 if [name]Rose[/name] and [name]Alice[/name] weren’t both in my top 3 for girls
I think it’s silly when I hear people say that Twilight ruined the name [name]Edward[/name] or any other name. Having never read the book, the association means nothing to me. I mean, [name]Edward[/name] has a distinguished history and has been worn by kings. I’m guessing that there are scores of other people who would think of that before thinking of YA romance novel when they hear the name.
Well I’d say definetily not, because [name]Edward[/name] on it’s own does not associate with the novel. then again, with [name]Isabella[/name] and [name]Bella[/name] being so popular, it might be a little tease-worthy because they’re together in the books and he’ll most likely have a few [name]Isabella[/name]/Bellas in his class. [name]Just[/name] a thought
I love the name [name]Edward[/name]! Especially with the NN [name]Eddie[/name]. I think I would wait a few years to use it to give Twilight some time to die down but in 10 years I don’t think anyone will care about Twilight anymore.
Wow, I have the same situation–[name]Edward[/name] is on my list because the last name Edwards is a family name. DH is worried about the Twilight association but I feel like there are enough well-known Edwards that nobody is going to think of Twilight first. Our favorite nickname for [name]Edward[/name] is [name]Ned[/name]–my husband also likes [name]Ted[/name], which I don’t mind, and I love [name]Ward[/name] but he only thinks “ward of the court,” so that’s out. We would definitely use it without the s if we use it as a first name. If I met someone else’s kid with the name Edwards as a first name I’d think it was neat but I imagine he’d have to correct people constantly about the s ending.
Interesting thoughts on [name]Edward[/name]. I’m glad to see that no one really thinks [name]Edward[/name] has been “ruined” by Twilight. [name]Edward[/name]'s classic status seems to have saved the name. I probably wouldn’t expect the same verdict for names like [name]Emmett[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Rosalie[/name], [name]Alice[/name], [name]Esme[/name], and [name]Carlisle[/name].
I would be using Edwards, not [name]Edward[/name]. I’m in the South and have met guys (sometimes girls) named [name]Phillips[/name], [name]Williams[/name], Jacobs, etc. Yes, occasionally someone will mistake their name for [name]Phillip[/name], [name]William[/name], or [name]Jacob[/name]. However, don’t we all occasionally have our name mistaken for something else? I have considered [name]Edward[/name] without the “s”, but for me [name]Edward[/name] just doesn’t have the same personal meaning and significance as Edwards.
I don’t think “Twilight” when I see [name]Edward[/name],it’s an old,well used name. I think “Twilight” when I see Renesme.
[name]Edward[/name] is such a classic name it would be a shame for it not to be used because of a flash in the fan pop culture moment.
I feel much the same about [name]Hermione[/name],the name existed long before [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name] came along.
I mean,when people name their daughter [name]Alice[/name],no one says “oh [name]Alice[/name] in Wonderland”.
are you kiddin me? i think you should name your son something more twilighty if you love the book so much! edward is a normal name i think u name your son cullen…its more obvious
It will probably be in my family for many more generations. I think it is definitely usable. Some people your age will ask if it’s from Twilight, but you can just tell them it’s a family name and that will be the end of it. Your son’s peers will have no idea where the name comes from. If it were me, I would just use [name]Edward[/name] without the s. Edwards sounds too much like a surname, or like there is more than one. I also prefer [name]Edmund[/name], but that’s just my style. I like [name]Ned[/name], [name]Ed[/name], [name]Eddie[/name], and [name]Ward[/name] for nicknames.