Edgar
From Old English Ēadgār, the name of early English kings, from Old English ēad (“rich”) + gār (“spear”).
Every Edgar since 1880 — 157,919 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Edgar
Edgar is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #486 in 2025 with 617 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 157,919 American babies have been named Edgar. Its peak came in 2005, when 2,459 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Edgar stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Edgar year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 617 | #486 |
| 2024 | — | — | 682 | #458 |
| 2023 | — | — | 714 | #436 |
| 2022 | — | — | 775 | #417 |
| 2021 | — | — | 758 | #412 |
| 2020 | — | — | 789 | #391 |
| 2019 | — | — | 812 | #386 |
| 2018 | — | — | 925 | #357 |
| 2017 | — | — | 940 | #356 |
| 2016 | — | — | 1,013 | #342 |
| 2015 | — | — | 1,114 | #317 |
| 2014 | — | — | 1,180 | #302 |
| 2013 | — | — | 1,210 | #286 |
| 2012 | — | — | 1,317 | #269 |
| 2011 | 5 | #17,539 | 1,468 | #243 |
| 2010 | — | — | 1,644 | #218 |
| 2009 | 6 | #15,800 | 1,908 | #201 |
| 2008 | — | — | 2,064 | #195 |
| 2007 | — | — | 2,420 | #168 |
| 2006 | — | — | 2,392 | #171 |
| 2005 | 5 | #17,246 | 2,454 | #168 |
| 2004 | 8 | #11,932 | 2,385 | #171 |
| 2003 | — | — | 2,320 | #172 |
| 2002 | — | — | 2,195 | #175 |
| 2001 | 10 | #9,585 | 2,376 | #161 |
| 2000 | — | — | 2,072 | #177 |
| 1995 | 14 | #6,359 | 2,321 | #152 |
| 1990 | 25 | #4,038 | 2,207 | #143 |
| 1985 | 8 | #7,773 | 880 | #258 |
| 1980 | 8 | #7,606 | 888 | #252 |
| 1975 | 8 | #6,674 | 717 | #271 |
| 1970 | 7 | #6,532 | 666 | #303 |
| 1965 | — | — | 603 | #309 |
| 1960 | — | — | 716 | #294 |
| 1955 | — | — | 933 | #233 |
| 1950 | — | — | 937 | #209 |
| 1945 | — | — | 869 | #180 |
| 1940 | — | — | 985 | #164 |
| 1935 | 7 | #3,501 | 1,145 | #138 |
| 1930 | 16 | #2,130 | 1,526 | #119 |
| 1925 | 10 | #3,174 | 1,809 | #96 |
| 1920 | 13 | #2,626 | 2,029 | #89 |
| 1915 | 10 | #2,751 | 1,895 | #85 |
| 1910 | 5 | #2,514 | 441 | #80 |
| 1905 | — | — | 315 | #78 |
| 1900 | — | — | 374 | #71 |
| 1895 | — | — | 323 | #64 |
| 1890 | 5 | #1,390 | 338 | #61 |
| 1885 | — | — | 303 | #60 |
| 1880 | 5 | #856 | 283 | #61 |
Famous people named Edgar
- Edgar Allan Poe Writer · 1809–1849
- Edgar Degas Painter · 1834–1917
- Edgar Rice Burroughs Writer · 1875–1950
- Edgar Cayce Occultist · 1877–1945
- Edgar the Peaceful Politician · 943–975
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Edgar mean?
From Old English Ēadgār, the name of early English kings, from Old English ēad (“rich”) + gār (“spear”).
How popular is the name Edgar in 2025?
Edgar ranked #486 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 617 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Edgar?
157,919 babies have been named Edgar in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Edgar most popular?
Edgar peaked in 2005, when 2,459 newborns received the name.
Is Edgar a boy or girl name?
Edgar is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Edgar rising or falling?
Edgar is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Edgar?
Well-known people named Edgar include Edgar Allan Poe (writer), Edgar Degas (painter), Edgar Rice Burroughs (writer).