Edmund is a classic and distinguished male given name of Germanic origin, meaning "protector of friends". It was brought to Britain by the Anglo-Saxons and was popular among royalty during the Middle Ages. Edmund is often associated with St. Edmund, King and Martyr of East Anglia, who was canonized in 1246. This saint's veneration contributed significantly to the name's popularity in medieval England. The name Edmund has been borne by several notable figures throughout history, including Edmund Halley, the astronomer after whom Halley's Comet is named, and Edmund Hillary, the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Variant forms of Edmund include Ed, Eddie, Eddi, and Edwin.
The name Edmund experienced peaks of popularity between 1912 and 1930, with five births each year during these periods except for notable years like 1924 and 1926 with seven births, and a later spike in 1979 with five births. Overall, there were 60 babies named Edmund across these years.