kids encyclopedia robot

Edith facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Edith
Gender Female
Origin
Word/Name Old English
Meaning Prosperity, wealth and strife.
Other names
Related names Ditte, Edie, Edythe

Edith is a popular girl's name with a long history. It comes from Old English words. The first part, ēad, means wealth or prosperity. The second part, gȳð, means strife. So, the name Edith can mean "prosperous in strife" or "wealthy battle."

You'll find the name Edith used in many countries. These include English, German, and many Scandinavian countries. It's also common in the Netherlands. In France, the name is spelled Édith. Some shorter versions or nicknames for Edith are Ditte, Dita, and Edie.

The name Edith was very common before the 16th century. Then, it became less popular for a while. But it made a comeback in the early 1800s and has been used steadily ever since. In England and Wales, it has been one of the top 100 names for baby girls since 2017. In the United States, it was a top 50 name for girls between 1880 and 1927. In 2022, it was the 513th most popular name for American newborn girls. In Canada, it was the 518th most popular name in 2021.

Celebrating Name Days

Some countries celebrate "name days." A name day is a tradition where people celebrate the day associated with their given name. It's like a second birthday! The name Edith has several name days around the world:

Famous People Named Edith

Many famous and important women throughout history have been named Edith. Here are just a few:

Historical Figures

  • Edith of Wessex (1025–1075) was the Queen of England. She was married to King Edward the Confessor.
  • Edith of Wilton (961–984) was an English nun and saint. She was known for her kindness and wisdom.
  • Edith the Fair (1025–1086) was a powerful English noblewoman. She was connected to King Harold II of England.

Leaders and Activists

  • Edith Cowan (1861–1932) was an Australian politician. She was the first woman elected to an Australian parliament. She worked hard for women's and children's rights.
  • Édith Cresson (born 1934) is a French politician. She served as the Prime Minister of France, which is a very important leadership role in her country.
  • Edith Green (1910–1987) was an American politician. She was a congresswoman who worked on education and labor laws.
  • Edith Roosevelt (1861–1948) was the First Lady of the United States. She was the wife of President Theodore Roosevelt.
  • Edith Wilson (1872–1961) was also a First Lady of the United States. She was the wife of President Woodrow Wilson.
  • Edith Windsor (1929–2017) was an American activist. She was very important in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.

Artists and Writers

  • Edith Evans (1888–1976) was a famous British actress. She starred in many plays and films.
  • Edith Head (1897–1981) was an American costume designer. She designed costumes for many Hollywood movies and won several awards.
  • Edith Holden (1871–1920) was a British artist and teacher. She is known for her beautiful nature drawings and writings.
  • Edith Nesbit (1858–1924) was a British writer. She wrote many popular children's books, like The Railway Children.
  • Édith Piaf (1915–1963) was a very famous French singer. She is known for her powerful voice and emotional songs.
  • Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) was a British poet and critic. She was known for her unique and modern poetry.
  • Edith Wharton (1862–1937) was an American writer. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her novels about society.

Other Notable Women

  • Edith Cavell (1865–1915) was a brave British nurse during World War I. She helped many soldiers escape.
  • Edith Frank (1900–1945) was the mother of Anne Frank. Anne Frank was a young girl who kept a famous diary during World War II.
  • Edith Quimby (1891–1982) was an American medical researcher. She was a pioneer in using radiation for medicine.
  • Edith Stein (1891–1942) was a German philosopher and nun. She was a very intelligent thinker and writer.

Edith in Other Languages

The name Edith is spelled and pronounced differently around the world. Here are some examples:

See also

  • Eadgyth (disambiguation)
  • Ealdgyth
  • Edythe (disambiguation)
kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Edith Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.