Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1927

Edsel

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #12,552

The automobile marque is named after Edsel Ford (1893–1943), son of Henry Ford.

Rank 2025
#12,552
among boys · ↓1,246 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
5
named Edsel
How common
1 in 341,615
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1927
224 babies
All-time total
3,962
#2,105 all-time among boys
First recorded
1914
in Social Security records

Edsel popularity over time

3,962 babies have been named Edsel since 1914, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.060.130.190.2518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1927Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 204 20 – #731
1920s 1,323 132 +549% #399
1930s 665 67 -50% #575
1940s 445 45 -33% #802
1950s 448 45 +1% #972
1960s 234 23 -48% #1,408
1970s 138 14 -41% #2,229
1980s 140 14 +1% #2,467
1990s 124 12 -11% #3,088
2000s 111 11 -10% #4,771
2010s 86 9 -23% #5,314
2020s (to 2025) 44 7 -15% #7,237

The story of Edsel

Edsel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #12,552 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1914, 3,962 American babies have been named Edsel. Its peak came in 1927, when 224 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Edsel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Edsel?

The median living Edsel is about 62 years old; half are between 36 and 75. An estimated 1,500 people named Edsel are alive in the United States today.

median 62 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Edsel year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 5 #12,552
2024 6 #11,306
2023 6 #11,212
2022 7 #10,101
2021 11 #7,237
2020 9 #8,251
2019 5 #12,694
2018 15 #5,845
2017 6 #11,143
2016 9 #8,335
2015 9 #8,235
2014 5 #12,600
2013 12 #6,727
2012 – –
2011 8 #8,980
2010 17 #5,314
2009 12 #6,914
2008 20 #4,771
2007 12 #6,756
2006 – –
2005 12 #6,341
2004 11 #6,671
2003 10 #6,870
2002 14 #5,210
2001 12 #5,778
2000 8 #7,652
1995 19 #3,464
1990 20 #3,088
1985 14 #3,257
1980 20 #2,467
1975 12 #3,122
1970 12 #2,776
1965 28 #1,461
1960 27 #1,561
1955 37 #1,241
1950 48 #1,013
1945 39 #1,019
1940 60 #802
1935 68 #744
1930 104 #593
1925 173 #459
1920 55 #930
1915 17 #1,724
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Edsel

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Edsel Ford Edsel Ford American businessman (1893–1943) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Edsel, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Edsel?

The median living Edsel is about 62 years old. Half of all living Edsels are between 36 and 75 years old.

How many people named Edsel are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Edsel are alive in the United States, based on 3,962 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Edsel mean?

The automobile marque is named after Edsel Ford (1893–1943), son of Henry Ford.

How popular is the name Edsel in 2025?

Edsel ranked #12,552 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Edsel?

3,962 babies have been named Edsel in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Edsel most popular?

Edsel peaked in 1927, when 224 newborns received the name.

Is Edsel a boy or girl name?

Edsel is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Edsel rising or falling?

Edsel is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Edsel?

Well-known people named Edsel include Edsel Ford (businessperson).

Names like Edsel

Names that sound and feel close to Edsel: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Edsel with similar names → More names starting with E →