Given name & surname · also German, American
Edsel
“one who is plain”·“one who is noble and bright”·“from the wealthy man's house”
Edsel is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who is plain”, “one who is noble and bright”, and “from the wealthy man's house”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who is plain”, “one who is noble and bright”, and “from the wealthy man's house”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with American, German, and English naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Edsel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,962
- 3,962 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1927
- 224 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #12,552 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 12,552 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 20.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 224 in 1927. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,693 as a first name in 2020; 100 as a surname in 2000.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Edsel’s family of names
Edsel has a related form in Edzel. Edsel has a related form in Eazele. Edsel has a related form in Edcel.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 19
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Edsel
- Edsel FordAmerican businessman (1893-1943)
- Edsel DopeAmerican singer and musicianborn 1974
- Edsel Ford FongWorld's rudest waiter (1927-1984)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Edsel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elgin
“a noble man; one who is white-skinned”
>99% boys
Odell
“a sweet melody” · “one who is wealthy”
98% boys · 2% girls
Eldridge
“a wise ruler”
>99% boys
Eldred
“an old, wise advisor”
93% boys · 7% girls
Elbert
“a wellborn man” · “a bright man”
>99% boys
Eldon
“from the sacred hill”
>99% boys
Elden
“an old friend”
>99% boys
Elvin
“a friend of the elves”
>99% boys