Édouard

Édouard is the French given name corresponding to Edward. It derives from the Old English Eadweard, composed of ead meaning wealth or fortune and weard meaning guardian or protector. The form Édouard has been used in French contexts since the Middle Ages and remains common in France and other Francophone regions, including Belgium and parts of Canada.

The name has been borne by many notable figures across fields such as the arts, politics, and science. The painter Édouard Manet (1832–1883) is one of the best known figures with this name. In politics, Édouard Daladier (1884–1970) and Édouard Herriot (1872–1957) served as French prime ministers in the interwar and wartime periods, while Édouard Balladur (born 1925) and Édouard Philippe (born 1970) held the office in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In literature and philosophy, Édouard Glissant (1928–2011) is recognized for his Caribbean‑influenced writings, and in music and science there are figures such as the composer Édouard Lalo (1823–1892) and the astronomer Édouard Roche, associated with the Roche limit.

Variants and related names appear across languages. In French, Édouard is typically rendered with the acute accent, while in other contexts it may appear as Edouard (without the accent). Equivalents in other languages include Edward or Edvard in English and Scandinavian languages, Eduardo in Spanish and Portuguese, and Eduard in German and Dutch. The name remains in use in contemporary French-speaking communities and retains a historical presence in European naming traditions.