$Unique_ID{PAR00346} $Font{NP} $Pretitle{} $Title{Names for Boys: E} $Subtitle{} $Author{ Editors of Consumer Guide Harder, Kelsey} $Subject{Names Boys E} $Log{} The Ultimate Baby Name Book Names for Boys: E Eamon (see Edmond, Emmons) Eanruig (see Henry) Earl Old English Eorl, "noble man or warrior." This royal title is often used as a given name, especially in the United States, where it's one of the 50 most-popular boys' names. Among English nobility, the title indicates a rank between marquis and viscount, and corresponds to the title of count in other countries. Earl is one of the oldest titles, and it is mentioned in Beowulf, where it has the meaning of minor king. The place name Arlington means "the town of the people of the earl." Famous names: Earl Douglas Averill (baseball player) Erle Stanley Gardner (mystery writer) Earl "The Pearl" Monroe (basketball player) Earl Warren (chief justice U.S. Supreme Court) Early "Gus" Wynn (baseball pitcher) Nickname: Pearl Variations: Earle, Early, Erl, Erle, Errol, Erroll Earle (see Earl) Early (see Earl) Ebbo (see Everett) Ebert (see Ewart) Eberto (see Herbert) Eckbert (see Egbert) Ector (see Hector) Ed Nickname of Edgar, Edmond, Edward, or Edwin. Ed is now used as a separate name. It fits the current fashion for short names and is one of the 50 most-popular names for boys. Famous names: Ed McMahon (TV personality) Ed Sullivan (TV personality) Ed Wynn (actor) Eddie Form of names beginning with Ed-, including Edgar, Edmond, Edward, and Edwin. Eddie is one of the 50 most-popular names. It was originally a nickname and became a favorite with entertainers. Famous names: Eddie Albert (actor) Eddie Cantor (singer) Eddy (see Edward, Edwin) Edgar Old English Eadgar, "prosperous spearman," from ead [wealth] + gar [spear]. This name has been popular since the tenth-century reign of Edgar of England. He was an extremely successful and influential ruler, who was widely respected. Shakespeare used the name for the loyal son of the Duke of Gloucester in King Lear. In the United States today, not many new parents choose this name for their baby sons. Famous names: J. Edgar Hoover (FBI director) Edgar Allan Poe (poet) Edgar Lee Masters (poet) Nicknames: Ed, Eddie Variations: Edgard (Hungarian and Russian), Edgardo (Italian and Spanish), Edgars (Latvian), Edko (Czech), Garek (Polish) Edgard (see Edgar) Edgardo (see Edgar) Edgars (see Edgar) Edison (see Edward) Edko (see Edgar) Edlin (see Edwin) Edmon (see Edmond) Edmond, Edmund Old English Eadmund, "prosperous protector," from ead [wealth] + mund [protection]. Before the Norman Conquest, there were several English kings named Edmund and two saints: St. Edmund of Abingdon and St. Edmund the Martyr. The name has been used continuously by royalty in England, despite changes in the ruling household. Edmund was the bastard and disloyal son of the Duke of Gloucester in Shakespeare's King Lear. Today, the name ranks toward the middle of the 100 most-popular given names. Famous names: Edmund Burke (statesman) Sir Edmund Hillary (mountaineer) Edmund Muskie (politician) Edmond Rostand (playwright) Edmund Spenser (poet) Edmund Wilson (literary critic) Nicknames: Ed, Eddie, Mundy Variations: Eamon (Irish), Edmon (Russian), Edmondo (Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian), Edmundas (Latvian), Edmundson (English), Mundek (Polish), Odon (Hungarian) Edmondo (see Edmond) Edmundas (see Edmond) Edmundson (see Edmond) Edo (see Edward) Edoardo (see Edward) Edoardos (see Edward) Edouard (see Edward) Eduard (see Edward) Edus (see Edward) Eduviges (see Edwin) Edvard (see Edward) Edvino (see Edwin) Edvins (see Edwin) Edward Old English Eadweard, "wealthy guardian," from ead [wealth] + weard [guardian]. This very old name has often been the name of the king of England. Several King Edwards ruled West Saxony and England before the Norman Conquest, and eight have sat on the throne since then. The latest was Edward VIII, who resigned after less than a year to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee of whom the court did not approve. Edward VII, who succeeded his mother, Queen Victoria, gave his name to the Edwardian era, which corresponds to his reign from 1901 to 1910. Famous names: Edward Fitzgerald (translator) Edward Gibbon (author) Edward Lear (painter and poet) Edward R. Murrow (TV reporter) Edward G. Robinson (actor) Edward Steichen (photographer) Nicknames: Duardo, Ed, Eddie, Eddy, Edo, Edus, Guayo, Ned, Ted Variations: Audvard (Norwegian), Edison (English), Edoardo, Edoardos (Greek), Edouard (French), Eduard (German, Estonian, Rumanian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Yiddish), Edvard (Slovakian), Edwards, Edwardson, Edyardas (Latvian), Odoardo (Italian) Edwards (see Edward) Edwardson (see Edward) Edwin Old English Eadwine, "rich friend," from ead [wealth] + wine [friend]. The first Edwin of historical record was the king of Northumbria, who converted to Christianity in 627. After he was killed at the battle of Heathfield, he was canonized St. Edwin. His day is October 12. The name fell into almost total disuse until it was revived in the late-nineteenth century, influenced by The Mystery Edwin Drood, an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens. In the United States today, it's one of the 100 most-popular names for boys. Famous names: Edwin Booth (actor) Edwin Lee Mathews (baseball player) Edwin Arlington Robinson (poet) Nicknames: Ed, Eddie, Eddy, Edlin, Inek, Ned, Ted Variations: Eduviges (Spanish), Edvino (Italian), Edvins (Latvian) Edyardas (see Edward) Eemeli (see Emil) Egbert Old English "bright as a sword" from ecg [sword] + beorht [bright]. In the ninth century, Egbert became the first king of all of England. There is only one St. Egbert, and he was honored by the Church for persuading the Celts to adopt Roman liturgical practices. His day is April 24, the day of his death. Of the 100 names most often chosen for boys in the United States, Egbert ranks 100th. Nicknames: Bert, Bertie, Egg, Eggis Variations: Eckbert, Egberto (Italian) Egberto (see Egbert) Egg (see Egbert) Eggis (see Egbert) Egidio (see Giles) Egidius (see Giles) Egor (see George) Eikki (see Eric) El (see Elroy, Elwood) Elden (see Eldon) Eldon Middle English elde, "old age"; or, Old English, "alder hill." The origin of this name is uncertain, but Aldous, a variation of Eldon, indicates a Germanic influence that may date from the Norman Conquest. Until recently, the name has never been popular, but for no apparent reason, many parents have suddenly begun to name baby boys Eldon. Nicknames: Aldy, Elly Variations: Aldous, Alton, Elden, Elton Elemar (see Elmer) Eleseo (see Alastair) Eleverto (see Herbert) Elfred (see Alfred) Elfriede (see Alfredo) Eli Hebrew "height"; also, a form of Elisha. Eli was the high priest who advised Hannah, the barren wife of Elkanah, to go in peace and God would grant her petition to have a child, which God did. The child's name was Samuel, whom Eli trained in the ways of the Lord. The name did not come into general use until the seventeenth century when the Puritans began to ransack the Old Testament for names. Old Eli is a no-longer-popular nickname for Yale University; the name of the institution's first benefactor was Elihu Yale. Famous names: Eli Wallach (actor) Eli Whitney (inventor) Elia (see Elijah) Elias (see Elijah, Ellis) Eliasz (see Ellis) Eliberto (see Herbert) Elie (see Elijah) Elihu (see Ellis) Elijah Hebrew "Yahweh is my God." Elijah was the Hebrew prophet who appeared before Ahab, the king of Israel, and predicted that God would punish his people with a great drought because the king practiced idolatry. Later, Elijah ended the famine by praying to God and denouncing Ahab for having murdered Naboth. At the end of his life, Elijah was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire. The name was popular during the Middle Ages and then dropped from use. It was revived in the seventeenth century by the Puritans, and it's still used, especially by religious Protestant families. Famous name: Elie Wiesel (novelist) Variations: Elia (Italian), Elias (English), Elie (French), Ellis Elisee (see Elisha) Eliseo (see Elisha) Elisha Hebrew "God is my salvation." Elisha was the Hebrew prophet who succeeded Elijah. He performed many miracles, including raising a person from the dead, causing an axe to float in water, curing leprosy, and predicting the conclusions of sieges. Famous names: Elisha Cook (actor) Elisha Harrison "Camp" Skinner (baseball player) Nicknames: Eli, Ely Variations: Elisee (French), Eliseo (Italian) Ellie (see Elroy, Elwood) Ellis Hebrew Elijah or Elisha, "the Lord is my God." Famous names: Ellis Fergason "Cot" Deal (baseball pitcher) Elias Howe (inventor) Nickname: Elly Variations: Elias (Czech, German, Greek, Hungarian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Yiddish), Eliasz (Polish), Elihu (English), Eluas (Lithuanian), Iliia (Hungarian) Ellwood (see Elwood) Elly (see Eldon, Ellis, Elmer) Elmar (see Elmer) Elmer Old English Aetheelmaer from aetheel [noble] + maere [famous]. This name almost never occurs in England; it is strictly American. The name has become unpopular in recent years because it reminds most people of a comic country hick. The cartoon character Elmer Fudd does not improve the name's image; neither does the sleazy preacher Elmer Gantry in Sinclair Lewis' novel. Famous names: Elmer Ellsworth "Hickory" Johnson (baseball player) Elmer Rice (playwright) Nickname: Elly Variations: Elemar (Hungarian), Elmar, Elmeras (Lithuanian), Ethelmarus (German), Hjalmar (Swedish and Norwegian), Ulmar (English) Elmeras (see Elmer, Emil) Elroy Old French "the king." This name is popular in the southern part of the United States. Famous name: Elroy Leon Face (baseball pitcher) Nicknames: El, Ellie Variation: Leroy Elsdon Old English Ellis' dene, "Ellis' valley." This name is very rare, perhaps because it is so difficult to pronounce. Variation: Elston Elston (see Elsdon) Elton Old English "old farm"; also, a place name Aeltun, "eel town" or "Ella's village or farm." Elton has been a surname since the Middle Ages, when it was common for a person to be named after the place where he lived. Elton is one of the 100 most popular names for boys. Famous names: Elton John (entertainer) Elton Langford (baseball player) Fred Elton Williams (physicist) Variation: Eldon Eluas (see Ellis) Elvin (see Alvin) Elvis Old Norse "all wise." The spelling of this name is new to the twentieth century. If it is a variation of Alvin or Elvin, the phonetic development can't be explained. Maybe the name has to do with elves, who are often considered to be wise. But anyone who is planning to name their baby son Elvis is probably choosing the name because of Elvis Presley. Elwin (see Alvin) Elwood Old English ealdewode, "old wood" or "forest." Famous names: Elwood George English (baseball player) Russell Elwood Ennis (baseball player) Nicknames: El, Ellie, Wood, Woody Variation: Ellwood Ely (see Elisha) Em (see Emmett, Emil, Emmons) Emens (see Emmons) Emil, Emile Latin Aemilius, a Roman family, possibly connoting "industrious." This name has a Christian background. As a feminine name it occurs in the works of Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Jane Austen. Aemilius is a noble Roman in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. Jean-Jacques Rousseau presented his treatise on education in Emile, in which he advised parents to bring up their children according to the laws of nature. Famous names: Emil Jannings (actor) Emile Zola (novelist) Nicknames: Em, Emmy, Milo Variations: Amal (German), Eemeli (Finnish), Elmeras (Latvian), Emilek (Czech and Polish), Emilio (Italian), Emilu (Russian), Emok (Polish), Llillo (Spanish), Milko (Slovakian) Emilek (see Emil) Emilio (see Emil) Emilu (see Emil) Emmet (see Emmett) Emmett Origin uncertain. There are two possibilities for the derivation of this name: Hebrew emet, "truth," or emmet, "an ant," symbolizing industriousness. It might also be a diminutive of Emma, a surname used in both England and Ireland. The name is not popular in the United States. Famous names: Emmett Kelly (clown) Emmett R. "Snags" Heidrick (baseball player) Other spelling: Emmet Nicknames: Em, Emmy Emmon (see Emmons) Emmons Origin and meaning uncertain. This name began to appear in England after the Norman Invasion as Emagyne, Imayn, Emens, Emmines, and Emonie. It could have evolved from an Old German name meaning "strength" or "iron," but it might be derived from Edmund and Edward through Eamon, a contracted form. The suffix -s means "son of," so Emmons means "son of Emmon." Famous names: Walter Emmons Alston (baseball manager) Emmons Joseph "Chick" Bowen (baseball player) Nicknames: Em, Emmy Variations: Eamon, Emens, Emmon Emmy (see Emmett, Emil, Emmons) Emok (see Emil) Enoch Hebrew "educated." Enoch was the eldest son of Cain, although some biblical scholars suggest that he may have been Abel's son, since Enoch is listed in Genesis only as the grandson of Adam. The name was popular with the Puritans and is still used in rural areas of the United States. "Enoch Arden," a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, recounts the story of the sailor who returns home and finds his wife married to his friend. He does not reveal himself and dies of a broken heart. Variation: Hanoch (Hebrew) Enos Hebrew "man." Enos was the son of Seth and the grandson of Adam. Although nothing more is written about Enos in the Bible, the name is popular in the southern part of the United States. It is also being used more and more by parents in other parts of the country, where all biblical names are becoming increasingly popular. Famous name: Enos Bradsheer "Country" Slaughter (baseball player) Enrico (see Henry) Enrique (see Henry) Eoin (see John) Erberto (see Herbert) Eric Old German "honorable ruler" possibly from ehre [honor] + richi [ruler]. The use of this name in England is a result of Danish colonization, but Eric is popular in the United States because it's a common name in all Scandinavian countries. The name is now one of the 20 most-often-used boys' names. It is short, somewhat unusual, and fashionable. Famous names: Eric Clapton (singer) Erich Maria Remarque (author) Eric the Red (Norwegian navigator who explored Greenland) Erich von Stroheim (movie director) Nicknames: Ric, Rick, Rickie, Ricky, Risa Variations: Eikki (Finnish), Erich (German and Slovakian), Erico (Portuguese and Italian), Erik (French), Erikh (Hungarian and Russian), Eriks (Latvian) Erich (see Eric) Erico (see Eric) Erik, Erikh (see Eric) Eriks (see Eric) Eriverto (see Herbert) Erl, Erle (see Earl) Ermania (see Herman) Ermanno (see Herman) Ermenia (see Herman) Ermin (see Herman) Ern (see Ernest, Erwin) Ernek (see Ernest) Ernest German Ernst, "vigor, earnest." The name is a latecomer to England; it was introduced in the eighteenth century by the royal family of Hanover. Edward Bulwer Lytton published his novel Ernest Maltravers in 1827. Oscar Wilde used the name to launch one pun after another in his play, The Importance of Being Earnest. This name is still one of the 100 most-popular boys' names in the United States, but it is quickly losing out to shorter names. Famous names: Ernest F. Hollings (U.S. senator) Ernest Hemingway (novelist) Ernest Jones (biographer) Ernie Kovacs (comedian) Ernst Lubitsch (movie director) Carl Ernest "Swats" Sawatski (baseball player) Nicknames: Ern, Ernie Variations: Arno (Czech), Ernek, Ernestas (Latvian), Ernesto (Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish), Ernro (Hungarian), Ernst (German, Russian, Slovakian, Swedish, and Ukrainian), Ernt (Estonian), Estek (Polish) Ernestas (see Ernest) Ernesto (see Ernest) Ernie (see Ernest) Ernro (see Ernest) Ernst (see Ernest) Ernt (see Ernest) Errol (see Earl) Erroll (see Earl) Ervin (see Erwin) Ervins (see Erwin) Erwin Old English Eoforwine from erofor [boar] + wine [friend]. This name is sometimes mistaken as a variation of Irvin or Irving, but Erwin is an entirely different name. Nickname: Ern Variations: Ervin (Czech and Slovakian), Ervins (Latvian), Erwinek (Polish) Erwinek (see Erwin) Esaias (see Isaiah) Esdra (see Ezra) Esevan (see Stephen) Esra (see Ezra) Essias (see Isaiah) Estaphano (see Stephen) Esteban (see Stephen) Estefon (see Stephen) Estek (see Ernest) Estevan (see Stephen) Estifano (see Stephen) Estivido (see Stephen) Ethan Hebrew "strength, permanence, and firmness." One Old Testament Ethan was the son of Zerah; another Ethan was the son of Kushaiah. The name was not used until the eighteenth century when it was taken up by the Puritans, mostly in the United States. They generally took names for their children from the Bible, sometimes by opening the book at random and placing a finger upon the page. The child was named whatever name the finger touched. Edith Wharton used the name for the hero of her tragic novella Ethan Fromme. Ethan ranks near the middle of the 100 names most often chosen for boys in the United States. Famous name: Ethan Allen (American Revolution hero) Ethelmarus (see Elmer) Etienne (see Stephen) Etto (see Hector) Ettore (see Hector) Eufredo (see Alfred, Alfredo) Eugen (see Eugene) Eugene Greek eugenius, "well-born"; Latin eugenius. Popes and princes have chosen this name because of its connotation of nobility, and their choice has increased its popularity with common people. St. Eugenius of Carthage was noted for his piety and goodness. Pope Eugene III helped unite the Eastern Church with the Church of Rome. Prince Eugene de Savoie-Carignan was a great Austrian general; he led the Second Crusade and helped the duke of Marlborough to victory over Louis XIV. He contributed more to the popularity of this name than anyone else. Famous names: Eugene V. Debs (political activist) Eugene Ionesco (playwright) Eugene Joseph McCarthy (U.S. senator) Eugene O'Neill (playwright) Eugene Ormandy (conductor) Nicknames: Gene, Geno Variations: Eugen (German and Rumanian), Eugenio (Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish), Eugeniusz (Polish), Evdienije (Serbian), Evgen (Slovenian), Ewhen (Ukrainian), Yevgeniy (Russian) Eugenio (see Eugene) Eugeniusz (see Eugene) Ev (see Evan, Everett) Evan Welsh "youth"; also, Welsh form of John. Before Christian times, a Welsh king named Evan made a law that gave him the right to all the women in his kingdom. After more than a thousand years, the oppressive law was repealed at the request of King Malcolm's queen, and the subjects were allowed to give the king a money payment instead of their wives. The name Evan is becoming steadily more popular now that short names are in fashion. Famous name: Evan Hunter (novelist) Nickname: Ev Variations: Bevan (Welsh), Bowen, Owen, Yvaine (English) Evarado (see Everett) Evdienije (see Eugene) Everart (see Ewart) Everett Old German eburhart, "strong as a boar," from ebur [wild boar] + hartu (strong]. This name entered England at the time of the Norman Conquest. Then as now, it only occasionally appeared as a first name. Famous name: Everett Dirksen (U.S. senator) Nicknames: Ebbo, Ev, Evy Variations: Bernat (Hungarian), Evarado (Italian and Spanish), Everhard (German), Evraud (French) Everhard (see Everett) Evert (see Ewart) Evgen (see Eugene) Evraud (see Everett) Evy (see Everett) Ewan (see Owen) Eward (see Ewart) Ewart Variation of Edward. Variations: Ebert, Everart, Evert, Eward Ewen (see Owen) Ewhen (see Eugene) Ez (see Ezra) Ezra Hebrew "help." With permission from King Artaxerxes, Ezra, a Hebrew scribe and priest, led the Israelites out of exile to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Ezra is the author of the Book of Ezra and is believed to have written other books in the Bible as well. It is still used occasionally today in the Southern part of the United States. Famous name: Ezra Pound (poet) Nicknames: Ez, Ezzie Variations: Esdra (Spanish), Esra (English) Ezzie (see Ezra)