Some of the most popular names for babies born in the United States in the last century have started with the letter “E.” Names like Emily, Emma, and Edward have long sat at the top of the popularity charts—so it’s no surprise if you know people with all of these names.

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.