Given name
Edna
“one who brings pleasure; a delight”
Edna is used as a given name. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who brings pleasure; a delight.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hebrew interpretation is “one who brings pleasure; a delight.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
In English use, Edna has a related form in Eden. The shared background comes through Eden: The surname developed from Edun or Edon, formed with Old English éad and hūn. Given-name Eden can therefore reflect a surname returning to personal use, while also drawing on the quite separate Garden of Eden association.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Edna has a related form in Eden. The history of Eden gives this family its wider story. Eden’s English history includes a medieval given name becoming a surname and later being used as a given name again. Eden’s biblical place-name association probably helped that later use, although it should not erase the surname’s independent background.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Edna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 296,158
- 1,042 boys · 295,116 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 8,730 babies
- 2025
- 72
- #2,463 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 72 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,463 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 8,698 in 1918. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 68,962 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Edna’s family of names
In English usage, Edna has a related form in Eden. In German usage, Edna has a conventional equivalent in the Irish form Etna. Edna has a related form in Edena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Edna has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
6 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Edna
- Edna St. Vincent MillayAmerican poet (1892–1950)
- Edna FerberAmerican novelist, short story writer and playwright (1885–1968)
- Edna Purvianceactress (1895-1958)
- Edna KiplagatKenyan long-distance runnerborn 1979
- Edna ParkerAmerican supercentenarian (1893–2008)
- Edna May OliverAmerican actress (1883–1942)
- Edna Adan IsmailSomaliland politicianborn 1937
- Edna BestBritish actress (1900-1974)
- Edna Murphyactress (1899-1974)
Characters named Edna: Edna Krabappel (the simpsons franchise), Dame Edna Everage (Australian fictional character), Edna Mode (The Incredibles).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Edna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Beulah
“married” · “woman who is claimed as a wife”
>99% girls
Reba
“one who is bound to God”
>99% girls
Eva
“giver of life; a lively woman”
>99% girls
Rena
“one who sings a joyous song”
>99% girls
Ethel
“a noble woman” · “one who is noble”
>99% girls
Alva
“one who has a fair complexion” · “a bright man”
24% boys · 76% girls
Yetta
“ruler of the house” · “myrtle”
>99% girls
Manuela
“God is with us”
>99% girls