Edith is a female given name, derived from the Old English words ead, meaning 'riches or blessed', and gyð, meaning 'war', and is in common usage in this form in English, German, many Scandinavian languages and Dutch. Its French form, also a common name in French, is Édith. Contractions and variations of this name include Ditte, Edie and Edythe.
It was a common first name prior to the 16th century, where it fell out of favour. It became popular again at the beginning of the 19th century, and in 2007 it was ranked at 730th most popular female name in the United States, according to the Social Security online database. It was more common as a name for children in the early 20th century than in the late 20th or early 21st centuries.
The name Edith has three name days; May 14 in Estonia, October 31 in Sweden and September 16 in France.
Famous quotes containing the word edith:
“I know that if I’d had to go and take an exam for acting, I wouldn’t have got anywhere. You don’t take exams for acting, you take your courage.”
—Dame Edith Evans (1888–1976)
“If you’re an actor, a real actor, you’ve got to be on the stage. But you mustn’t go on the stage unless it’s absolutely the only thing you can do.”
—Dame Edith Evans (1888–1976)
“Jane, Jane,
Tall as a crane,
The morning light creaks down again;”
—Dame Edith Sitwell (1887–1964)