Fun Facts About the Name Edsel
- More than 3 thousand babies named Edsel: U.S. records list 3,962 babies given the name Edsel from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Edsel Mean?
Edsel is a masculine given name used mainly in the United States, generally explained as a modern formation from Old English name elements rather than as an inherited Old English personal name. The element most often cited is Old English ēad, meaning "wealth, prosperity, fortune," which also appears in names such as Edgar, Edmund, and Edwin. With a diminutive ending, the name is commonly glossed as "prosperous" or "wealthy."
That derivation is not firmly documented, and the second element of the name is unclear. A separate and less supported suggestion connects Edsel with the German name Etzel, the German form of Attila, but the two names are not clearly related and the link remains uncertain. The sense "prosperous" is therefore best treated as a customary interpretation rather than a securely traced etymology.
Edsel Name History & Origins
The name is most closely associated with Edsel Ford (1893 - 1943), the only son of the automaker Henry Ford and later president of the Ford Motor Company. In the 1950s the company used his name for a new automobile division and its car line, the Edsel, introduced for the 1958 model year. The brand was dropped after a few model years, and the name became widely known through the car.
Outside that association, Edsel has remained an uncommon given name, used almost entirely in the United States. It is sometimes grouped with other names built on the Old English element ēad, such as Edgar and Edwin, though it is far less common than those names. The exact origin of Edsel and the route by which it entered American naming are not clearly established.
How Popular is the Name Edsel?
Edsel recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1927. Its best rank was #399 in 1927.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,552 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #11,263 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #11,201 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #10,098 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #7,233 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #8,245 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #12,689 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #5,845 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #11,141 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #8,335 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #8,234 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #12,597 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #6,727 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #8,980 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #5,314 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2009 | #6,912 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #4,770 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #6,754 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #6,339 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #6,672 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2003 | #6,869 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #5,210 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #5,778 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #7,651 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #7,359 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #5,956 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #5,769 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #6,139 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #3,464 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #5,198 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #4,795 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #4,397 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #4,565 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #3,088 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1989 | #3,242 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #3,256 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #3,795 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #4,220 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #3,257 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #2,856 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #4,243 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #3,541 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #3,275 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #2,467 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #3,644 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #3,267 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #2,587 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #2,741 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #3,122 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #2,303 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #3,072 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #2,872 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #2,230 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #2,776 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #2,241 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #1,518 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1967 | #1,869 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1966 | #2,258 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #1,461 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1964 | #1,669 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #1,408 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #1,525 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1961 | #1,612 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1960 | #1,561 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1959 | #1,131 | 47 | 0.0022% |
| 1958 | #1,020 | 56 | 0.0026% |
| 1957 | #1,030 | 54 | 0.0025% |
| 1956 | #1,456 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1955 | #1,241 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1954 | #1,249 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1953 | #1,265 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1952 | #972 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 1951 | #976 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1950 | #1,012 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1949 | #1,167 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1948 | #1,132 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1947 | #986 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1946 | #1,115 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 1945 | #1,019 | 39 | 0.0029% |
| 1944 | #1,092 | 37 | 0.0027% |
| 1943 | #850 | 61 | 0.0043% |
| 1942 | #1,172 | 35 | 0.0025% |
| 1941 | #954 | 45 | 0.0037% |
| 1940 | #802 | 60 | 0.0052% |
| 1939 | #935 | 45 | 0.0041% |
| 1938 | #809 | 59 | 0.0053% |
| 1937 | #1,101 | 35 | 0.0033% |
| 1936 | #845 | 52 | 0.0050% |
| 1935 | #744 | 68 | 0.0065% |
| 1934 | #836 | 56 | 0.0054% |
| 1933 | #724 | 71 | 0.0072% |
| 1932 | #749 | 70 | 0.0067% |
| 1931 | #575 | 105 | 0.0101% |
| 1930 | #593 | 104 | 0.0095% |
| 1929 | #611 | 98 | 0.0091% |
| 1928 | #487 | 156 | 0.0141% |
| 1927 | #399 | 224 | 0.0199% |
| 1926 | #457 | 174 | 0.0157% |
| 1925 | #459 | 173 | 0.0155% |
| 1924 | #539 | 138 | 0.0122% |
| 1923 | #570 | 120 | 0.0109% |
| 1922 | #608 | 113 | 0.0104% |
| 1921 | #800 | 72 | 0.0065% |
| 1920 | #930 | 55 | 0.0052% |
| 1919 | #731 | 76 | 0.0078% |
| 1918 | #1,067 | 41 | 0.0040% |
| 1917 | #1,153 | 34 | 0.0037% |
| 1916 | #1,184 | 31 | 0.0035% |
| 1915 | #1,724 | 17 | 0.0020% |
| 1914 | #3,385 | 5 | 0.0008% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Edsel
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with E
Short Boy Names That Start with E
How the Name Edsel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Edsel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Edsel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.