Choosing your baby’s name based on a letter is something many families do. Whether you have a pattern to uphold with the whole family or you want to create a sequence of initials, choosing based on that first letter can be a way to get you there. If names that start with “E” are what you’re after, there are both unique and popular names to choose from.
Eden
Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Paradise Famous Namesakes: Professional soccer player Eden Hazard is one of the more well-known people with this name. Peak Popularity: Eden continues to grow in popularity. Its biggest year was 2020.
Edison
Origin: English Meaning: Son of Edward Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ed, Eddie Famous Namesakes: Edison is commonly seen as a last name, like Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. Peak Popularity: Edison has been a popular name in the last few years, seeing its peak in 2018.
Edith
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Rich warFamous Namesakes: Singer and actress Edith Piaf is one of the most famous people named Edith.Peak Popularity: Edith was a popular name in the early 1900s, peaking in 1908.
Edward
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Wealthy guardianAlternative Spellings & Variations: Ed, EddieFamous Namesakes: Edward is quite a popular name. Celebrities with this name include actors Eddie Murphy and Ed Helms, musicians Eddie Van Halen and Ed Sheeran, and famed TV announcer Ed McMahon.Peak Popularity: Edward was in the top 10 names for baby boys from 1900 through 1930.
Edwina
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Prosperous friendFamous Namesakes: One of the current most well-known Edwinas is Edwina Sheffield Sharma—the fictional character from the “Bridgerton” series.Peak Popularity: Edwina was a popular name in the 1940s.
Eileen
Origin: Irish Meaning: Beautiful bird Famous Namesakes: Actresses Eileen Brennan and Eileen Atkins Peak Popularity: Eileen was popular in the 1940s and 1950s.
Eleanor
Origin: French Meaning: Lighthearted Alternative Spellings & Variations: El, Ellie, Elanor Famous Namesakes: Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the most famous women with this name. Peak Popularity: Eleanor was popular in the 1920s and 1930s and has seen a resurgence in recent years.
Elaine
Origin: EnglishMeaning: LightAlternative Spellings & Variations: ElFamous Namesakes: Actresses Elaine Stritch and Elaine MayPeak Popularity: The 1930s were a big decade for the name Elaine.
Elana
Origin: Spanish Meaning: Light Peak Popularity: Elana made an appearance on the Social Security Administration’s popularity list for two years in the 1960s but promptly dropped off.
Elijah
Origin: Hebrew Meaning: My God is Yahweh Famous Namesakes: Actor Elijah Wood of Lord of the Rings fame is one of the most well-known Elijahs. Peak Popularity: Elijah has been in the top 10 names for baby boys since 2016.
Eliza
Origin: EnglishMeaning: God is my oathAlternative Spellings & Variations: AlizaFamous Namesakes: Actresses Eliza Dushku and Eliza CoupePeak Popularity: Though Eliza was relatively popular in the early 1900s, it’s become even more popular in recent years.
Elizabeth
Origin: HebrewMeaning: God is my oathAlternative Spellings & Variations: Elisabeth, Eliza, Beth, LizFamous Namesakes: Well-known people with the name Elizabeth include actresses Liz Taylor and Elizabeth Olsen, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and, of course, Queen Elizabeth II.Peak Popularity: Elizabeth has never fallen out of the top 50 names for baby girls. It’s been there since 1900.
Ella
Origin: Spanish Meaning: Young girl Famous Namesakes: Singer Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz, is one of the most well-known Ellas. Peak Popularity: Ella was popular in the early 1900s but dropped in popularity. Since 2008, though, it’s been in the top 20 names for baby girls.
Elle
Origin: FrenchMeaning: GirlFamous Namesakes: Actress Elle Fanning is a popular Elle.Peak Popularity: Elle’s most popular year so far was 2019.
Elliott
Origin: EnglishMeaning: The Lord is my GodAlternative Spellings & Variations: ElliotFamous Namesakes: Actors Elliott Gould and Elliot PagePeak Popularity: Elliott has steadily grown in popularity for decades, but 2020 was the best year yet.
Elmira
Origin: ArabicMeaning: PrincessFamous Namesakes: Russian beauty queen Elmira Abdrazakova is one of the well-known people with this name.Peak Popularity: Elmira is a vintage name that was popular in the early 1900s.
Eloise
Origin: FrenchMeaning: Famous warriorAlternative Spellings & Variations: HeloisePeak Popularity: Eloise was a popular name until the 1960s. With the ongoing trend of retro baby names, it has come back onto the popularity charts and continues to climb.
Emerson
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Son of EmeryAlternative Spellings & Variations: Emersen, EmeryFamous Namesakes: Emerson is often seen as a last name, like with author Ralph Waldo Emerson.Peak Popularity: Emerson’s biggest year was 2018.
Emile
Origin: FrenchMeaning: ExcelFamous Namesakes: Actor Emile Hirsch is one of the most famous Emiles.Peak Popularity: Emile saw its peak popularity in 1905.
Emilio
Origin: Italian Meaning: Excel Famous Namesakes: “Mighty Ducks” star Emilio Estevez is a celebrity with this name. Peak Popularity: Emilio’s best year yet was 2020.
Emily
Origin: EnglishMeaning: ExcelAlternative Spellings & Variations: Emilie, Emely, Emelie, EmFamous Namesakes: Emily is a popular name, and well-known people with this name include actresses Emily Blunt and Emily Osment, model Emily Ratajkowski, and poet Emily Dickinson.Peak Popularity: Emily was the most popular name for baby girls from 1996 through 2007.
Emma
Origin: Latin Meaning: Universal Famous Namesakes: There are plenty of actresses named Emma, like Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, and Emma Roberts. Peak Popularity: Emma has been in the top five baby names for girls since 2002 and had the No. 1 spot in 2008 and 2014 through 2018.
Emmanuel
Origin: HebrewMeaning: God is with usAlternative Spellings & Variations: MannyPeak Popularity: The biggest year for Emmanuel was 2009.
Emmett
Origin: EnglishMeaning: EntireAlternative Spellings & Variations: Emmet, EmmittFamous Namesakes: Former NFL player Emmitt Smith is one of the most famous men with this name.Peak Popularity: Emmett’s most popular year was 2020.
Ender
Origin: TurkishMeaning: Extremely rareFamous Namesakes: Halsey famously named their baby Ender in 2021.Peak Popularity: Ender hasn’t yet cracked the popularity list of baby names in the U.S., but it might in the future.
Enrique
Origin: SpanishMeaning: Home rulerFamous Namesakes: Singer Enrique Iglesias is one of the most famous people with this name.Peak Popularity: Enrique was a popular name in the early 2000s.
Enzo
Origin: ItalianMeaning: LaurelAlternative Spellings & Variations: LorenzoPeak Popularity: Enzo has grown in popularity since the early 2000s.
Ephraim
Origin: HebrewMeaning: Very fruitfulAlternative Spellings & Variations: EphramPeak Popularity: Ephraim was popular in the early 1900s before seeing a resurgence in recent years.
Eric
Origin: Scandinavian Meaning: Always ruler Alternative Spellings & Variations: Erik Famous Namesakes: Well-known people named Eric include actors Eric Andre and Eric Bana, musician Eric Clapton, and basketball player Eric Gordon. Peak Popularity: Eric was a popular name from the 1950s through the 1970s.
Erica
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Always rulerAlternative Spellings & Variations: ErikaFamous Namesakes: Actresses Erica Hubbard and Erica DurancePeak Popularity: Erica was a popular name for baby girls in the 1970s and 1980s.
Erin
Origin: IrishMeaning: IrelandAlternative Spellings & Variations: AaronFamous Namesakes: Actress Erin Bethea and reporter Erin AndrewsPeak Popularity: Erin was popular in the 1970s through the 1990s.
Esteban
Origin: SpanishMeaning: CrownAlternative Spellings & Variations: StefanPeak Popularity: Esteban’s biggest year was 2005.
Esther
Origin: Persian Meaning: Star Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ester Famous Namesakes: Actresses Esther Rolle and Esther Williams Peak Popularity: Esther was a popular name in the early 1900s but has seen a burst of popularity in recent years.
Eva
Origin: HebrewMeaning: Giver of lifeAlternative Spellings & Variations: AvaFamous Namesakes: Actresses Eva Longoria, Eva Mendes, and Eva GreenPeak Popularity: Eva was popular in the early 1900s but is becoming more and more popular again.
Evan
Origin: Welsh Meaning: God is good Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eben Famous Namesakes: Actors Evan Peters and Evan Rachel Wood Peak Popularity: Evan was in the top 100 names for baby boys from 1983 through 2019.
Eve
Origin: HebrewMeaning: To breatheFamous Namesakes: Mononymous singer Eve is one of the most famous people with this name.Peak Popularity: Eve’s most popular year was 1907.
Everly
Origin: EnglishMeaning: From the boar meadowAlternative Spellings & Variations: EverleighFamous Namesakes: Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan named their daughter Everly in 2013.Peak Popularity: Everly continues to grow and its most popular year was 2020.
Ezekiel
Origin: HebrewMeaning: God will strengthenAlternative Spellings & Variations: ZekeFamous Namesakes: Ezekiel is a book in the Old Testament of the Bible.Peak Popularity: Ezekiel’s biggest year was 2020.
Ezra
Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Help Famous Namesakes: Actor Ezra Miller and Vampire Weekend singer Ezra Koenig Peak Popularity: Ezra continues to grow in popularity, peaking in 2020.
