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the song Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, but then began to fade. Its other spellings include Ebbony, Eboney, Eboni, Ebonie and Ebonnee.

      Ed, Eddie see Edgar, Edmund, Edward

      Edan, Edana see Aidan, Edna

      Edgar m.

      From the Old English meaning ‘fortunate spear’. Owing to the popularity of King Edgar, King Alfred’s grandson, the name continued in use after the Norman Conquest, but it faded out at the end of the 13th century. It was then used by Shakespeare in King Lear, and revived with other Old English names by 18th-century writers of fiction. Its popularity in the 19th century probably stems from its use for the hero of Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor. It is shortened to Ed or Eddie.

      Edina see Edna

      Edith f.

      From the Old English name Eadgyth, meaning ‘fortunate war’. There were at least two English saints of that name in the 10th century. The name survived the Norman Conquest and was probably adopted by the Normans and used to replace several English names. Edith was in use throughout the Middle Ages, after which it became rather rare, but it returned to favour in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Often shortened to Edie, it has a rare form, Editha.

      Edmund m.

      From the Old English Eadmund, meaning ‘happy protection’. It was the name of two kings of England and of two saints. Edmond is a French form which was used from the late Middle Ages. Eamon(n) is the Irish form. It was well used in the 19th century, then went rather out of fashion but is now steadily coming back into use. Shortened forms are Ed, Eddie, Ted and Teddy.

      Edna f.

      One source of this name may be Edana, a feminine form of the Irish name Edan, meaning ‘fire’ (see AIDAN). It has also been connected with a shortened form of Edwina (see EDWIN), via Edina. In addition the name occurs twice in the Apocrypha and its Hebrew meaning is probably ‘rejuvenation’. The modern use of it may stem from the popularity of the novelist Edna Lyall in the late 19th century.

      Edward m.

      From the Old English meaning ‘fortunate guardian’. Edward the Confessor established its popularity in England and ensured its survival after the Norman Conquest. It was further strengthened by the accession of Edward I in 1272, after which there was an Edward on the English throne for over a hundred years. It has remained in use ever since. The short forms Ned and Ted, together with Neddy or Teddy, have been used since the 14th century, but Ed and Eddie are the more common abbreviated forms found today.

      Edwin m., Edwina f.

      From the Old English meaning ‘fortunate friend’. Edwin was the first Christian king of Northumbria, in the 7th century. The name survived the Norman Conquest and became popular in the 18th century. Edwina is a 19th-century female form.

      Effie see Euphemia

      Egbert m.

      From the Old English meaning ‘bright sword’. This was the name of the first king of a united England and of a 7th-century Northumbrian saint. It enjoyed some degree of popularity in the 19th century, but is now rarely found.

      Eibhlin see Evelyn

      Eileen f.

      An Irish development of EVELYN. Like other Irish names it spread throughout Britain at the beginning of the 20th century. Eily is a short form. It is not uncommon to find it spelt Aileen.

      Eilis, Ailis f.

      In theory Eilis, sometimes spelt Eil(l)ish to reflect its pronunciation, is an Irish form of ELIZABETH, and Ailis (Ailish) an Irish form of ALICE, but in practice many users do not distinguish between the two.

      Eithne f.

      A name prominent in Irish legend and history, being used by a goddess, a number of queens and no less than nine saints. It means ‘kernel’ which in old Irish poetry is a term of praise. Modern variants include Ethne, Ethna and the phonetic Enya.

      Ekata f.

      An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘unity’.

      Elaine f.

      An Old French form of HELEN, which occurs in medieval literature. It came into general use through the popularity of Tennyson’s Idylls of the King (1859), which is based on Malory’s Morte d’Arthur and which includes the story of Lancelot and Elaine. There is also a Welsh name Elain, meaning ‘fawn’.

      Eleanor f.

      Eleanor and Elinor are French forms of HELEN which have been used in this country since the Middle Ages. Eleanora, the Italian form which gives us LEONORA, is also found, as is Elena. Eleanor is shortened to Ellie (currently very popular as a given name), ELLA, ELLEN, NELL and NORA.

      Elfrida see Alfred

      Eli m.

      From the Hebrew meaning ‘elevated’. It was the name of the high priest in the Old Testament who looked after the prophet Samuel when he was given to the Temple as a baby. It was used as a first name in the 17th century. Eli is also a shortened form of ELIAS, Eliza (see ELIZABETH) and Elihu, which means ‘God is the Lord’.

      Elias, Elijah m.

      From the Hebrew meaning ‘Jehovah is God’. Both forms were very common in the Middle Ages, along with the pet forms Ellis and Eliot(t) or Elliot which became surnames, and are now used as first names. Elisha, ‘god is’, is often thought of as a variant of this name.

      Eliot(t) see Elias

      Elissa m.

      A name by which DIDO, Queen of Carthage, was known, but in modern use it is probably a pet form of ELIZABETH. The Austrian-Italian film actress Elissa Landi (whose full name was Elizabeth Zanardi-Landi), was well known in the 1930s.

      Elizabeth, Elisabeth f.

      From the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning ‘oath of God’ or ‘God has sworn’. The present form developed from the Greek Elisabet through the Latin Elisabetha to Elizabeth. In Britain the ‘z’ form is usual, on the Continent the ‘s’ is used, for in the Authorised Version of the New Testament, the name is spelt Elisabeth. It was first used by members of the Eastern Church, then found its way across Europe to France, where it developed the form ISABEL(LE). This was also the usual medieval form in England. Elizabeth became common about the end of the 15th century, and its later popularity in England stemmed from the long reign of Elizabeth I. Among the many pet forms are: Bess(ie), Betsy, Betty, Beth (with Bethan in Wales, see BETHANY), Buffy, Eliza, Lizzy, Liz, Liza, Libby and the Scottish Elspeth, Elspie and Elsie, which are now used independently. The German ELSA, ELISSA (see also ALICE), Lisa, Liese or Liesel, the Italian Bettina, and the French Elise, Lisette and Babette, are also used in Britain.

      Elke f.

      A German pet form of the name ALICE. It is found in a slightly different form used by the singer Elkie Brooks.

      Ella f.

      A name used by the Normans probably derived from the Old German Alia, meaning ‘all’. It can also be a pet form of Isabella (see ISABEL), ELLEN or ELEANOR and is currently an increasingly popular choice for parents (see also LUELLA). The real name of the Australian model Elle Macpherson, who has brought this form of the name to popular attention, is Eleanor.

      Ellen f.

      An older English form of HELEN, now used independently, and also a short form of ELEANOR. In the past it has been especially popular in Scotland and Ireland and is now showing signs of wider popularity.

      Ellie see Eleanor

      Elliot(t), Ellis see Elias

      Elmer m.

      This is a surname which comes from both the Old English Ethelmer, ‘noble and famous’ and Ethelward, ‘noble guard’. It became a first name in the USA in honour of two brothers with the surname Elmer who were prominent in the American War of Independence. Aylmer is another form of the name. While Elma is actually a short form of Wilhelmina, a German feminine of WILLIAM,

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