Edmilson is of Brazilian origin, derived from the Portuguese given name "Edmundo". It means "protecting" or "guardian", and has been popularized by Brazilian football player Edmilson de Carvalho, who played as a defensive midfielder for several prominent teams including Lyon and Barcelona. The name consists of five letters and has a masculine sound to it, ending with the soft 'n' common in many Portuguese names. It is considered quite unique outside of Brazil but has been increasingly heard more frequently in recent years due to its association with notable figures in football.
Edmilson was quite popular as a baby boy name in the year 2007 with six babies being named Edmilson that year.