Edwina is a feminine given name of Welsh origin. It is derived from the ancient Welsh name Edwyn, which is composed of two elements: "Eiddylated" meaning "rich" or "blessed", and "yn" meaning "bear". Therefore, Edwina can be interpreted as "rich bear" or "blessed bear".
The name Edwina has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages. It was used by several prominent Welsh families during this period, including the powerful lord of Glamorgan, Ifor Bach, whose daughter was named Edgolina in the late 14th century.
Although the name fell out of fashion for some time, it experienced a resurgence in popularity during the Victorian era. Today, Edwina is still considered a unique and elegant choice for a girl's name, offering a beautiful blend of Welsh heritage and timeless charm.
The name Edwina experienced significant popularity fluctuations over time, with peaks in the early to mid-20th century. From 1913 onwards, there was a steady increase in the number of newborn girls named Edwina, reaching its zenith in 1922 with 234 births. This trend continued until 1943, when it reached an all-time high of 364 births. However, post-World War II, there was a noticeable decline in the name's popularity, and by the late 1950s, fewer than 200 girls were being named Edwina annually.
From the 1960s onwards, the name became increasingly rare, with fewer than 30 births per year on average. The last decade has seen a further decline in popularity, with just single-digit numbers of newborn girls named Edwina each year since 2007. In total, from 1881 to 2023, there were 15,452 births registered for the name Edwina.