The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not. Linda Rosenkrantz
English, diminutive of EDITH. Cute short form that sometimes stands on its own, due for rediscovery along with Warhol ’It Girl’ Edie Sedgwick. Edea, Edee, Edeigh, Edi, Edy.
EDITH. English, ’prosperous in war’. Hugely popular name a hundred years ago that’s being revived among stylish parents in London. Definitely worth considering for those with a taste for forgotten, old-fashioned names. Eadie, Eadith, Ede, Edie, Edit, Edithe, Ediva, Edy, Edyth, Edythe, Eidith, Eidyth, Eyde, Eydie, Eydith, Edyte. International: Edetta, Edita, Editta (Italian), Edita, Dita (Spanish), Editha (German), Eda, Edda, Edka, Edyta, Ita (Polish), Dita, Ditka, Edita (Czech), Edi, Ekika (Hawaiian).
EDLYN. English, ’small, noble one’. Feels like a hybrid. It would be better to go for Edith or Evelyn. Edelynn, Edlin, Edlinn, Edlinna, Edlynn.
EDNA. Hebrew, ’rejuvenation, delight’. Though Emma and Ella have had successful return engagements, we don’t see much hope for Edna. Adna, Adnisha,
Clunky but Cool Names
| Agatha | Iris |
| Agnes | Isadora |
| Augusta | Josephine |
| Edith | Mabel |
| Eleonora | Margaret |
| Eudora | Matilda |
| Florence | Myrtle |
| Frances | Olive |
| Frederica | Pearl |
| Harriet | Phoebe |
| Helen | Prudence |
| Henrietta | Rosamund |
| Ida | Theodora |
| Imogen |
Eddi, Eddie, Eddna, Eddnah, Eddy, Ednah, Edneisha, Edneshia, Ednisha, Ednita, Edona.
EDWIGE. (ed-WEEG) French from German HEDWIG. Haitian writer Edwidge Danticat highlighted this sophisticated, chignon-wearing choice for literate parents. Edvig, Edwidge, Edwig. International: Edvige (Italian), Hedwig (German).
EDWINA. Feminine variation of EDWIN. Edwina’s still a little old-fashioned, but we can see her joining friends like Matilda and Josephine for a comeback. Better pronounced like Edwin than Edween. Eady, Eddi, Eddie, Eddy, Edina, Edweena, Edweina, Edwena, Edwine, Edwinna, Edwyna, Edwynn, Edy, Win, Winnie. International: Edwynna, Edwynne (Welsh), Eduina (Spanish), Edvina (Eastern European).
EFFIE. Greek, ’pleasant speech’. Old-fashioned short form for Euphemia, a little too barefoot and tattered to be worth reviving. Effemie, Effemy, Effi, Effia, Effy, Efthemia, Ephie, Eppie, Euphemia, Euphemie, Euphie.
EGLANTINE. French botanical name. This name is for the sweetbriar shrub—where is should remain, not the best choice your daughter. Eglantyne.
EGYPT. place name. Ever since Little Egypt practically invented the belly dance in the 1890s, this name has had a suggestive aura. Try Cairo instead.
EIBHLIN. (ev-lin) Irish, ’shining, brilliant’. Gaelic spelling complicates what is, phonetically, Evelyn. Aibhlin.
EILA. Hebrew, ’oak tree’. Hebrew name heard in Israel, without much spark. Ayla, Eilah, Eilona, Ela, Elah, Eyla, Ila.
EILEEN. Irish variation of HELEN. Plain-Jane Irish name that’s so far out it’s…still out. Aileen, Ailene, Alene, Aline, Ayleen, Eila, Eilah, Eilean, Eileena, Eileene, Eilena, Eilene, Eiley, Eilie, Eilieh, Eilina, Eiline, Eilleen, Eillen, Eiley, Eily, Eilyn, Eleen, Elene, Ilene Ilianna, Leana, Lena, Lianna, Lina.
EILIDH. (ay-lee) Scottish, ’sun’. A pretty name obscured outside of Scotland by difficult spelling and impossible pronunciation.
EILIS. (eh-LEESH) Irish variation of ELIZABETH. Interesting, but far too susceptible to confusion with the Alicia family of names. Ailis, Ailish, Eilish, Elis, Elish.
EIR. (air) Norse, ’peacefulness, mercy’. So airy, it’s almost not there.
EIRA. (I-ra or AY-ra) Welsh, ’snow’. Or, to avoid confusion with the outmoded male Ira, you could just name her Snow.
ÉIRE. (air-ih), Irish place name. Eire was a mythological goddess who named Ireland after herself. Rarely used today, even in Eire.
EIRIAN. Welsh, ’silver’. A modern Welsh name that will be misunderstood as Irene.
EITHNE. (ETH-na, EN-ya) Irish, ’fire’. Name of a goddess who survived only on milk. Pretty and soulful, but the phonetic spelling may save everyone a lot of trouble. Aine, Aithnea, Eithne, Ena, Enya, Ethnah, Ethnea, Ethnee.
EKATERINA. Slavic variation of CATHERINE. This exotic variation was publicised by Olympic skater Ekaterina Gordeeva. Ekaterine, Ekaterini, Yekaterina.
ELAINA. Variation of ELAINE or ELENA. Sounds exotic, feels familiar.
ELAINE. French variation of HELEN. Form of Helen first popularised in Arthurian legend, it is now unfashionable, except in its a-ending forms. Alaina, Alayna, Alayne, Allaine, Eilane, Elaene, Elain, Elainea, Elaini, Elainia, Elainna, Elan, Elana, Elane, Elania, Elanie, Elanit, Elanna, Elauna, Elayna, Elayne, Ellaina, Ellaine, Ellane, Ellayne, Lainey, Layney. International: Elaina (French), Elena (Spanish and Italian), Eline (Scandinavian).