Edgifu

Edgifu is a female given name of Old English origin, attested in medieval England under several spellings, including Eadgifu and Edgiva. The name combines elements from Old English, typically interpreted as ead meaning prosperity or wealth, and gifu meaning gift. As such, Edgifu has been translated in scholarship as "gift of prosperity" or "prosperity gift."

In historical records the name occurs among Anglo-Saxon nobility and clergy, appearing in Latinized form in charters and chronicles. It was particularly common in early medieval England, where naming practices favored compound virtues and blessings. Over time, the form varied by manuscript tradition, producing variants such as Eadgif and Edgif in addition to Edgifu and Eadgifu.

Usage declined after the Norman Conquest, but the form remains of interest to historians and onomasts studying Old English name patterns. In modern times, Edgifu is rarely used as a given name, though it may be revived in historical fiction, period dramas, or by enthusiasts of Anglo-Saxon culture.

Notable bearers are recorded in various sources as women named Eadgifu or Edgiva in royal or noble circles; precise identifications vary by historian and source. The name’s historical resonance continues to inform studies of medieval English onomastics and related name variants.