Edythe is a variant of the name Edith, primarily used in English-speaking countries. The name Edith itself is derived from the Old English name Eadgyð, which combines the elements ead (meaning "wealth, fortune") and guð (meaning "battle"). Thus, Edythe shares the same core meaning of "wealthy battle" or "rich war" as its root name. Historical Context and Popularity Edith was a prominent name among Anglo-Saxon royalty. For instance, Saint Eadgyeth (also known as Edith) was the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceful, and Edgitha (Edith) was the Anglo-Saxon wife of Emperor Otto I. The name remained common after the Norman Conquest but fell into decline after the 15th century. It was revived, however, in the 19th century, leading to variant spellings like Edythe and Edytha. While Edith is more traditional, Edythe offers a phonetically consistent alternative that became especially popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable Bearers Several notable individuals have borne the name Edythe or its variant Edyth. Among them are Edythe Baker (1899–1971), an American pianist; Edythe Chapman (1863–1948), a stage and silent film actress; Edythe D. London, a contemporary professor of psychiatry at UCLA; Edythe Lewis, the first black female disc jockey in Dayton, Ohio, during the 1950s; Edythe Shuttleworth (1907–1983), a Canadian mezzo-soprano; and Edythe Wright (1916–1965), a singer who performed with Tommy Dorsey. In the alternative spelling, Edyth Goodall (1886–1929) was a Scottish actress; Edyth H. Schoenrich (1919–2020) was an American physician and educator; Edyth Starkie (1867–1941) was an Irish painter; and Edyth Walker (1867–1950) was an American opera singer. Variants and Related Names Edythe is one of several variant forms of the name Edith, alongside Editha and Edytha. The diminutive Edie is also a common nickname. In other languages and cultures, the name appears as Eadgyð (Anglo-Saxon), Edita (Slovene), Edith (Swedish), Ditte (Danish), Édith (French), and Editha (German). Meaning: "wealthy battle" (from Old English ead "wealth" + guð "battle") Origin: English variant of Edith Type: Feminine given name Usage Regions: English-speaking countries