Eddie is the familiar short form of Edward, the Old English name from ead, "wealth", and weard, "guardian", so it means "wealthy guardian"; it also serves Edwin, Edmund and Edgar. Comedian Eddie Murphy, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and singer Eddie Vedder show how firmly the nickname stands on its own in America. Eddie was number 349 in 2000 and has slipped to number 861 among boys in 2025.