eddy

Eddy is a given name, often a diminutive of Edward, and is used as a standalone name in various cultures. It appears in different languages and can also be found as a surname or nickname in some cases.

As a common noun, an eddy is a small whirlpool or swirling current of water or air. Eddies form when a flow encounters obstacles, encounters shear, or becomes turbulent, and they occur in rivers, oceans, and atmospheric systems. They can influence mixing, sediment transport, and the motion of nearby objects.

In science and engineering, the term eddy is used in several contexts. Eddy currents are loops of electrical current induced within conductors by changing magnetic fields, a principle exploited in applications such as induction heating, braking, and non-destructive testing. Eddy viscosity is a concept used in turbulence modeling to describe the diffusion of momentum by turbulent eddies.

Notable people named Eddy include Eddy Merckx, a Belgian former professional cyclist; Eddy Grant, a Guyanese-born British musician known for songs like "Electric Avenue"; and Eddy Mitchell, a French singer and actor. The name also appears across various fields in fiction and media, reflecting its broad usage as a recognizable given name.