Edmund

After dear Mel asked below my opinion of the name Edmund my thoughts overtook me and I decided that I needed a separate post all about the name Edmund! So this is for you Mel, enjoy! 

 

EDMUND Gender: MasculineUsage: English, German, PolishPronounced: ED-mənd (English), ED-muwnt (German, Polish)  [key]Means "rich protector" from Old English ead "rich, blessed" and mund "protector". This was the name of two Anglo-Saxon kings of England. It was also borne by twosaints, including a 9th-century king of East Anglia who, according to tradition, was shot to death with arrows after refusing to divide his Christian kingdom with an invading pagan Danish leader. This Old English name remained in use after theNorman conquest (even being used by king Henry III for one of his sons), though it became less common after the 15th century. Famous bearers of the name include the English poet Edmund Spenser (1552-1599), the German-Czech philosopher Edmund Husserl (1859-1938) and New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008), the first person to climb Mount Everest. -Behind the Name database entry.

First, you need to know that I absolutely love the name Edmund and it is currently at the top of my favorite boys names list! I've always like the name but recently it has soared to the top for several reasons. 

Here are a few:

Reason One: Jane Austen's Edmund Bertram

Although he's not my favorite of Jane Austen's heroes, he is a truly kind good-hearted gentleman and very worthy of dear Fanny Price. There is a lovely passage from Mansfield Park in which Fanny Price and Mary Crawford give their opinion of Edmund's name. 

'Fanny was silent, and Miss Crawford relapsed into thoughtfulness, till suddenly looking up at the end of a few minutes, she exclaimed, “Ah! here he is.” It was not Mr. Rushworth, however, but Edmund, who then appeared walking towards them with Mrs. Grant. “My sister and Mr. Bertram. I am so glad your eldest cousin is gone, that he may be Mr. Bertram again. There is something in the sound of Mr. Edmund Bertram so formal, so pitiful, so younger–brother–like, that I detest it.”

“How differently we feel!” cried Fanny. “To me, the sound of Mr. Bertram is so cold and nothing–meaning, so entirely without warmth or character! It just stands for a gentleman, and that’s all. But there is nobleness in the name of Edmund. It is a name of heroism and renown; of kings, princes, and knights; and seems to breathe the spirit of chivalry and warm affections.”

“I grant you the name is good in itself, and Lord Edmund or Sir Edmund sound delightfully; but sink it under the chill, the annihilation of a Mr., and Mr. Edmund is no more than Mr. John or Mr. Thomas. Well, shall we join and disappoint them of half their lecture upon sitting down out of doors at this time of year, by being up before they can begin?”'  - Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, Chapter 22

I definitely take Fanny's point of view! That's why I put my favorite lines in bold. Jane Austen chose well, the name's meaning fits the character, Edmund Bertram is Fanny's "blessed protector"!

Reason Two: C.S. Lewis' Edmund Pevensie

Edmund Pevensie has always been one of my favorite Narnia characters. He does (like Eustace Scrubb, who is my favorite) start out as a fairly nasty character but he undergoes a transformation that is a picture of salvation. Edmund after his encounter with Aslan is an amazing character who bravely tries to make amends for all the wrong he's done earlier. 

Reason Three: Actor Edmund Gwenn (1877-1959)

If you've ever seen the black & white film Miracle On 34th Street then you'll recognize that he played Kris Kringle, the man who was Santa Claus. He was born Edmund Kellaway in London, England. Mr. Gwenn added charm and class to every film he acted in whether playing a lovable character or a villain. One of my favorites is his role as Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1940), he brought such humor and thoughtfulness to the role!

Reason Four: This Photo

I can't even remember which blog I found this photo on but the thing that struck me is that this adorable little boy's name is Edmund! I'd never seen or met anyone named Edmund before so the little boy in this photo just brought fresh life to the name and helped me to see that the name Edmund could be so fresh and charming on a little boy. It is an old-fashioned name, fit for a king, but by no means old-man sounding. 

If you felt Edmund needed a nickname I would suggest "Ned" as apposed to the more natural "Ed", "Eddy" or "Eddie" which I think are boring and overused. 

Names that are related to EDMUND:

EADMUND   m   Anglo-Saxon

EAMON   m   Irish

ÉAMONN   m   Irish

ED   m   English, Dutch

EDDIE   m & f   English

EDDY   m   English

EDMAO   m   Limburgish

EDMÉ   m   French (Archaic)

EDMÉE   f   French (Rare)

EDMOND   m   French

EDMONDA   f   Italian

EDMONDO   m   Italian

EDMUND   m   English, German, Polish

EDMUNDO   m   Spanish, Portuguese

MAO (2)   m   Limburgish

MONET   f & m   Various

NED   m   English

ÖDI   m   Hungarian

ÖDÖN   m   Hungarian

I love the name Eamon / Eamonn and also think Edmee would be a nice name to use for a girl, especially if you wanted to honor a father or grandfather named Edmund. 

My favorite combo now is Edmund Laurence which I just think is so strong handsome! Laurence honors my paternal grandfather who I was named after and I've really felt the need to use it and the feeling that the name is "mine" lately. 

Edmund is such a handsome name!

Your Resident Name Enthusiast,

Miss Laurie :)