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I'm with you that it's hideous! I know my great aunt (born in the 1920s) is Kathleen Edna and I think there were other Edna's of her generation in our family.

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When I was a child Evil Edna was the name of an angry television set in a cartoon (Willo the Wisp) so I also think of that which is a bit of an off-putting image! https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=univ&tbm=isch&q=evil+edna&safe=strict&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSuKfq4pLrAhVUTsAKHcBuCSgQsAR6BAgIEAE&biw=1366&bih=625

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As for it's appeal at the time, I'm not sure. It's short and catchy. I think there were other names with a harsh sound which were popular at the time like Hilda, Freda, Brenda etc. Mind you, they are all equally hideous! Must have just been a popular sound like today we have Eva, Ava, Evie etc.

Edna was the name of a ggm and it still doesn't get a pass from me. I find it very unattractive. I agree with you very much. IMO, Edna has absolutely nothing going for it.

It’s irredeemably hideous. Unquestionably, horribly, ugly. It sounds like a dog throwing up.
I don’t know what the appeal is, because I sure can’t find anything pretty about it.

I think is ugly. The Ed-sound seems too masculine.

I don’t get its appeal at all, besides the fact that it’s old fashioned and uncommon.

My great-grandmother was named Edna. She was born in Philadelphia, in...1905, I think? 1906? I can't remember.

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Anyway, I agree, the name is hideous. I can't tell you why it was popular...maybe because of fathers named Edward? IDK, it's so clunky and flat and BAH. I really don't like it.

I don’t really like it or hate it. It’s not the prettiest name, sure, but it’s not Agatha or Gertrude. Now that I think about it, Agnes and Agatha are two hideous names that everyone on here loves as well.

I love it

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It's a sturdy, salt-of-the-earth name. Plus, Eddie is an adorable nickname. It's definitely not irredeemably hideous -- I find it infinitely lovelier than Sloane, Kayley, Riley, etc.

My guess is that it appealed because it was new, or seemed new, at the time. I mean, it didn't have a history like Mary and Anna and Elizabeth ad nauseam, so the novelty factor prevailed for a while, and then wore off, as it will.
I think it's hideously ugly. It sounds congested and stuffed up.

I can only picture a grumpy old lady with this name. Definitely can’t see it making a comeback in the way that names like Edith have.

It's got a lot of appeal for me because it reminds me of some of my favorites like Etta, Edda, Erna, and the nickname Eddie on a girl.

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But I probably wouldn't use it because it's regarded so negatively, and there's other fresher options to choose from.

Double post

This message was edited 8/10/2020, 3:39 AM

I don’t love the name, but can see the appeal. My mum knew a wonderful woman called Edna who died when I was about 3 or 4 so I only remember her a bit, but I always think of her when I hear the name.

I get why people think it’s ugly but I secretly love it. It has the same clunkiness as Enid but is less bookish. The harshness of it appeals to me too, I think?
But I can’t get past the Dame Edna association.

I don't understand all the hate for Edna. I mean, it's not a name I'd use personally and it's not the prettiest name out there, but I don't mind it. Maybe it's different for people whose first language isn't English, like me? I don't know.

"Irredeemably hideous" comes close ... on my dad's side of the family there were two sisters, Eileen and Edna, which is pretty dire all round; their mother's full and only name was Florrie, so perhaps her lack of judgement is understandable.

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Edna and Ethel would have been even worse.

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And, going back to an earlier thread, I would enjoy Edith much more if only I hadn't been at school with one (the family went in for the unusual, her full names are Edith Linda Marie!) who was a whiney whinger back in the day and has repeatedly ended up in rehab: drugs and alcohol. And I just see her face, with its expression of sulky desperation.

I totally agree with you, yuk

Well... when was that at peak popularity? 1890s?

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That's also when this silhouette was considered appealing:

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And when it was like... sexy to have TB.

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And everyone had snuffboxes on hand at all times full of who the heck knows what.

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So... I think ppl were just off their rockers tbh.

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But really tho... Edna is at least young and sprightly sounding, it's sharp (like an elbow to the ribs), and has more energy than other contemporaries like Bertha or Ethel.