The story behind Edna
From Hebrew עֶדְנָה (“pleasure; delight”); a variant of Eden in the Book of Tobit. In Ireland and Scotland it has been used as an anglicization of Eithne.
Other language forms and explanations (3)
Portuguese entry
a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Edna
Spanish entry
a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Edna
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Edna, from Hebrew עֶדְנָה, a variant of Eden.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɛdnə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈɛd͡ʒ.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈɛ.d͡ʒi.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈɛd.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Portugal: [ˈɛð.nɐ]
- Portuguese; Portugal; Southern: /ˈɛd.nɐ/
- Spanish: /ˈedna/
- Spanish: [ˈeð̞.na]
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈʔedna/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈʔɛd̪.n̪ɐ]
Popularity
Edna ranked #2463 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Edna
Efa
a male given name from Hebrew חַוָּה, equivalent to English Eve
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Eila
Possibly a variant of Norwegian Eili, a rare form of Eli (“Helen”), or from English Eileen. Popularized by the novel Tuskaa (1907) by Väinö Kataja.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Elma
From the 19th century. Likely from English Elma, Danish Elma or Italian Elma.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Eloá
Borrowed from Hebrew אֱלוֹהַּ (ʾélôah, “god”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Á
- same syllable count
- similar length
Elsa
From German Elsa, contraction of Elisabeth, occasionally used in English after its appearance in Wagner's opera Lohengrin (1847). From Swedish Elsa, short for Elisabet and its…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Emma
Brought to England by the Normans; short form of compound given names beginning with a Frankish prototheme Ermin- or Irmin- "entire", from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. From German…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Edna
Dan
From Hebrew דָּן (Dan). Dimunitve of Danjell (“Daniel”), Daniel (“id”) and Daniell (“id”). From Latin Daniēl (from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Eve
From Middle English Eve, Eue, from Old English Ēua, Ēfe, from Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Gad
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew גָּד (gad), a son of Jacob.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Edna
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adah
From Hebrew עָדָה (adá, “Adah”, literally “ornament, dawn”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection