Edwin

Edwin is a masculine given name of English origin. It derives from the Old English name Eadwine, formed from elements meaning wealth or fortune (ead) and friend (wine), commonly interpreted as “prosperous friend” or “wealthy friend.” Variants include Edwyn and Edvin, and the feminine form is Edwina. The name remains in use in English-speaking countries, often shortened to Ed or Eddie.

Historically, Edwin figures in Anglo-Saxon England. Edwin of Northumbria, a 6th- to 7th-century king, played a notable role in the spread of Christianity in the kingdom and is described by Bede; his reign ended with his death at the Battle of Heathfield. The name was revived in later centuries and has maintained steady usage in Britain and the United States.

Notable bearers include Edwin Hubble, American astronomer; Edwin Land, American inventor and founder of Polaroid; Edwin Starr, American soul musician; Edwin Abbott Abbott, British author of Flatland; Edwin Morgan, Scottish poet; and Edwin Meese III, American lawyer and government official.

In contemporary times the name Edwin remains common in the United States, United Kingdom, and other English-speaking regions. Diminutives include Ed and Eddie; cross-cultural variants appear in Scandinavia as Edvin (Swedish/Norwegian).