Gosh, I would certainly hope a classic like
Edward hasn't been "ruined" by a trendy book series no one will be reading in 30 years. Are your friends young teen girls, the target audience for Twilight? Because then it would make sense that the books would be their first association.
Personally, I dislike every name I can think of that starts with
Ed-. I guess it's just not my thing. I don't care for
Ned either.