Names  - Origins 

EAMON: Irish variation of Edmund. A good Irish name that has not been overused; a nice alternative to Sean, Ryan, and Kevin. Relative: Amon. Namesakes: Eamonn Coghlan, Eamon De Valera.

EARL: Old English for "a nobleman." Relatives: Earle, Earland, Early, Erie, Errol, Erroll, Earleen, Erleen, Erlene. Namesakes: Earl Weaver, Earl Monroe, Erle Stanley Gardner, Errol Flynn, Early Wynn.

EARTHA: Old English for "earth." Well known, but seldom used. A good choice for a baby with both feet on the ground. Namesakes: Eartha Kitt

EBEN: Hebrew for "stone." Relatives: Ebenezer, Eban. Namesakes: Ebenezer Scrooge, Abba Eban.

EBONY: Greek for "a hard wood." Relatives: Ebonie, Ebonee. Namesake: "Ebony and Ivory."

EDDA: Old English for "rich." Relative: Eda.

EDEN: Hebrew for "delight." Provocative. Relatives: Edie, Eddy, Eddie, Edan. Namesakes: Barbara Eden, Anthony Eden.

EDGAR: Old English for "properous warrior." Don't dismiss the "Ed" names; they are adorable for little boys and mature well. Relatives: Edgerton, Edger, Edgarton. Namesakes: Edgar Allan Poe, Edgar Bergen.

EDISON: "Son of Ed." A nice selction from the "Ed" group. Relatives: Edyson, Edson. Namesakes: Eidson Armbrister, Thomas Edison, "Edison Carter."

EDITH: Old English for "expensive gift." Extremely popoular in the nineteenth century, but now completely out of fashion. Worth considering. Relatives: Edithe, Edythe, Edie, Edyth, Edita, Edda, Editha. Namesakes: Dame Edith Evans, Eydie Gorme, "Edith Bunker"

EDMUND: Old English for "rich warrior." One of the children of The Narnia Chronicles. An excellent choice. Relatives: Edmond, Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy. Namesake: Edmund Wilson

EDSEL: Old English for "rich." American for "clunky car." Try another. Namesake: Edsel Ford.

EDWARD: Old English for "rich guardian." A favorite of Briish kins and reflection of your own good taste. Relatives: Eduard, Eduardo, Edwards, Edwardson, Eddy, Ted, Teddie, Ned, Neddie, Edvard, Edwardo. Namesakes: Prince Edward, Edward Kennedy, Eddie Murphy, Ed Harris, Ted Williams.

EDWIN: Old English for "rich friend." Attractive choice from the "Ed: group. Relatives: Edina, Edwina, Edwyn, Edwyna, Edwynna, Edwinna. Namesake: Edwin Newman.

EGAN: Irish for "little fire." Irish names are popular and this one is seldom used. Relatives: Egon, Egil. Namesake: Egon Von Furstenberg.

EGERTON: Old English for "edge." Relative: Egmont.

EILEEN: An Irish variation of "Helen," it has been as popular in this country as in England. Relatives: Ilene, Evelyn, Alene. Namesakes: Eileen Brennan, "My Sister Eileen."

ELAINE: French variation of Helen. Relatives: Elaina, Elayne, Elana, Alaine, Alana, Laine, Laney. Namesakes: Elaine Stritch, Elaine May.

ELDER: Old English for "old." A Puritan favorite. Relatives: Alder, Eldred. Namesakes: Elder White, Lee Elder.

ELDON: Old English for "Ella's mound." A name that will sound at home in a law firm. Relative: Elden.

ELDRIDGE: Old English for "old counsel." Relatives: Eldred, Elbridge. Namesake: Eldridge Cleaver.

ELEANOR: From the Greek for "mercy." A royal name with many spelling possibilities. Relatives: Eleanore, Eleanora, Elinor, Elinore, Ellie, Nell, Leonore, Leonora, Eliana. Namesakes: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Eleanor Roosevelt, Eleanor Donahue, "Little Nell."

ELIAS: Hebrew for "The Lord is God." Well worth considering. Relatives: Elihu, Elyas, Ellis, Ellison, Ellsworth, Ellys, Elijah. Namesakes: Elias Howe, Ralph Ellison.

ELIOT: Hebrew for "high." The number of "L's" and "T's" are up to you. Relatives: Eli, Ely, Elliot, Elliott, Eliott. Namesakes: T.S. Eliot.

ELISE: Variation of Elizabeth. Relatives: Lise, Elisa, Elissa, Elyssa, Elyse, Elysse, Alise, Alyse, Alysse, Alyssa, Alysa. Namesake: "Für Elise."

ELIZABETH: Hebrew for "consecrated to God." Queens, saints, and actresses; how can you go wrong? Relatives: Elisabeth, Lisbeth, Liz, Lizzie, Liza, Eliza, Ellie, Elsa, Beth, Bess, Betty, Bette, Bettie, Betsy, Elise, Aliza, Libby, Elspeth, Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella. Namesakes: Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth McGovern, Elizabeth Taylor, Lisbeth Mark, Liza Minnelli, Bess Truman, "Eliza Doolittle."

ELLA: Old German for "all." Elegant and simple. Relative: Ellie. Namesake: Ella Fitzgerald.

ELLEN: A variation of Helen. A lovely name. Consistently popular but never trendy. Relative Ellyn, Elen, Elyn, Ellin, Elin, Elena. Namesakes: Ellen Burstyn, Ellen Goodman.

ELLERY: From the Latin for "cheerful." Works well for boys and girls. Relatives: Elery, Ellory, Elory, Ellary. Namesakes: "Ellery Queen."

ELLIS: A variation of Elias. Relatives: Ellison, Elias, Elisha. Namesakes: Ellis Burks, Ellis Rabb, Ralph Ellison.

ELMER: From the Old English for "famous nobleman." Relatives: Elmo, Elman, Elmore. Namesakes: Elmore Leonard, Saint Elmo, "Elmer Fudd."

ELSPETH: Scottish form of Elizabeth. A touch rarefied, but a nice alternative. Relatives: Elsbeth, Elsbet, Elspet. Namesake: Elspeth Huxley.

ELTON: Old English for "Ella's town." Relatives: Elten, Elroy. Namesake: Elton John.

ELVIRA: Spanish variation of German for "close." The name of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit and a song by the Oak Ridge Boys. Relatives: Elvyra, Elvera, Elvie, Elva, Elvina. Namesake: Elvira Madigan.

ELVIS: Anglo-Saxon for "noble friend" and rock 'n' roll for "king." Nobody else even comes close. Relatives: Elvin, Elva, Elwin, Elwyn. Namesakes: Elvis Presley, Elvin Hayes.

EMANUEL: Hebrew for "God is with us." Relatives: Emmanuel, Emmanuella, Immanuel, Imanuel, Manuel, Manuella, Manny. Namesakes: Emanuel Lewis, Emmanuel Philbert, Manny Mota.

EMILINE: Old German for "labor." Sweet and old-fashioned; more popular overseas than in the United States. Relatives: Emmeline, Emaline, Emmaline, Emyln, Emelyn, Emylin, Emiline, Emmiline, Emmilyne.

EMERSON: Old English for "Emery's son." Classy. Relatives: Emersen, Emmerson, Emmyrson, Emyrson. Namesakes: Emerson Boozer, Ralph Waldo Emerson.

EMERY: German for "powerful home." Relatives: Emory, Emmery, Emmory. Namesake: Emory College.

EMILY: From the Latin for "eager." A traditional name with a lovely musical sound. Relatives: Emilie, Emmilie, Emmily, Emil, Em, Emilia, Emilio, Emile, Emaline, Emeline, Emmaline. Namesakes: Emily Dickinson, Emilio Estevez.

EMLYN: A Welsh place name. Very tony. Relative: Emlin. Namesakes: Emlyn Williams, Emlyn Hughes.

EMMA: Old German for "all-embracing." Fashionable in the late nineteenth century and back again. Relatives: Emmie, Emmy, Em, Emmot, Emmott. Namesakes: Emma Samms, Emmylou Harris, Lady Emma Hamilton, "Emma Peel."

EMMETT: A variation of Emma. Relatives: Emmott, Emmet. Namesake: Emmet Kelly.

EMRICK: Welsh variation on the Greek for "immortal." A good choice if you are looking for a little-used name. Relatives: Emryk, Emrys, Emris.

ENID: Welsh for "soul." A grandmother's name that has not returned to fashionability. Namesake: Enid Haupt.

EPHRAIM: Hebrew for "fruitful." Relatives: Ephrem, Efrem. Namesake: Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

ERIC: Norse for "ruler of all." A name that has never gone out of vogue. Relatives: Erik, Erica, Erika, Eryk, Eryka, Erikson. Namesake: Eric the Red, Eric Clapton, "Erica Kane."

ERIN: Gaelic for "western island." The Irish really come up with great names. Relatives: Eryn, Erinn, Erinna, Erynn, Erynna. Namesakes: Erin Gray, "Erin Go Bragh."

ERNEST: Old German for "vigorous." A resolute and purposeful name. There is an importance to being Ernest. Relatives: Ernst, Earnest, Ernie, Ernestine, Earnestine, Ernesta. Namesakes: Ernest Hemingway, Ernie Pyle, Max Ernst.

ERROL: A variation of Earl. A swashbuckler, a pirate, or an outlaw, but always the romantic hero. Relative: Erle. Namesakes: Errol Flynn, Erle Stanley Gardner.

ERSKINE: Old English for "green heights." Several writers have carried this name. Namesakes: Erskine Caldwell, Erskine Childers.

ERVIN: A variation of Irving. Relatives: Irvin, Irving, Ervan, Erwin. Namesake: Ervin "Magic" Johnson.

ESME: From the Latin for "esteem." Add an accent to the final "e" for a continental look. Relatives: Esmee, Esma, Esmie.

ESMERELDA: Spanish for "emerald." The heroine of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Relatives: Esmeralda, Esmarelda, Esmaralda, Esmiralda, Esmirelda.

ESMOND: Old English for "protective grace." Relatives: Esmund, Desmond, Desmund. Namesake: The History of Henry Esmond.

ESTELLE: Latin for "star." One of the constellation names. Relatives: Estel, Estella, Stella, Estie, Estee. Namesakes: Estelle Parsons, Stella Stevens, Estée Lauder.

ESTES: Latin for "estuary." Relative: Eston. Namesake: Estes Kefauver.

ESTHER: Persian for "star." The girl with this name will certainly be a star at the Purim carnival. Relatives: Ester, Esta, Essie, Ettie, Hester, Hesther, Hettie. Namesakes: Queen Esther, Esther Williams, "Hester Prynne."

ETHAN: From the Latin for "constant." A good choice; you'll be ahead of the crowd. Relatives: Ethen, Etan. Namesakes: Ethan Allen, "Ethan Frome."

ETHEL: Old English for "noble." Relatives: Adele, Ethelred, Ethelbert. Namesakes: Ethel Merman, "Ethel Mertz," Ethelred the Unready.

ETIENNE: French variation of Stephen. A fine line of leather goods; this child will always be able to find monogrammed shoes. Relatives: Estienne, Ettie, Etta. Namesake: Etienne Aigner.

EUDOR: Greek for "good gift." Relative: Dora. Namesake: Eudora Welty.

EUGENE: From the Greek for "well-born." And your child certainly will be. Relatives: Gene, Eugenia, Eugenie. Namesakes: Eugene O'Neill, Empress Eugenie, Eugenia Falkenburg, Gene Kelly, Gene Sisket, Gene Shallit.

EUNICE: From the Greek for "victorious." Relatives: Eunyce, Unice. Namesake: Eunice Shriver.

EUSTACE: From the Greek for "fruitful." If you go with Eustace, call him Stacy. Relatives: Stace, Stacie. Namesake: "Eustace Tilley."

EVAN: Welsh variation of John. Like Ian, Ivan, and Sean, this is a popular alternative to John. Relatives: Evans, Evanston Namesakes: Evan Hunter, Walker Evans, Evanston (Ill.).

EVANGELINE: From the Greek for "messenger of good news." The heroine of the classic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Relatives: Evangelyn, Evangaline, Evangalyne.

EVE: From the Hebrew for "life." Relatives: Eva, Evy, Evie, Evita, Evander, Ev, Ava. Namesakes: Eve Arden, Evita Peron, Eva Marie Saint, "Little Eva," Ava Gardner.

EVELYN: Variation of Eve. Generally a girl's name, though in the past it was a common choice for boys. Evelyn Waugh's first wife was named Evelyn, Friends called them he-Evelyn, and she-Evelyn. Relatives: Eveline, Evalyn, Aveline, Avaline, Avelina, Avalina, Evel, Evilio, Evalina, Evelina, Evette. Namesakes: Evelyn Anthony, Evel Knievel

EVERETT: Old German for "strong boar." That's "boar," not "bore." Relatives: Everet, Everard, Eberhardt. Namesakes: Everett Dirksen, Edward Everett Horton, Chad Everett.

EWING: Origin uncertain, possibly old English for "youth." A name made famous by the "Dallas" clan on TV. Relatives: Ewan, Ewen, Ewart. Namesakes: Patrick Ewing, "J.R. Ewing."

EZRA: Hebrew for "salvation." Relatives: Ezer, Ezri, Ezzret. Namesakes: Ezra Pound.