Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Enid
GirlWelsh· “soul, life”
- Meaning
- soul, life
- Origin
- Welsh
- Pronunciation
- EE-nihd
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,586
- US babies 2025
- 30
- Best rank
- #412 (1920)
- Peak year
- 1920
Meaning and origin of Enid
Enid is a Welsh name that means “soul, life”.
Enid is a Welsh name, usually explained as soul or life, from the Welsh enaid. In Arthurian legend, Enid is the loyal wife of Geraint, and Tennyson retold their story in Geraint and Enid, part of the Idylls of the King. The name became popular in English in the late nineteenth century, partly thanks to Tennyson. The writer Enid Blyton, author of many children's books, is a well-known bearer. It is said EE-nihd.
Popularity over time
Enid first appears in US Social Security records in 1885. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 66 different years, starting in 1885. Its best national rank was #412 in 1920, the same year it reached its highest count of 261 babies. In 2025, 30 babies were named Enid, and it ranked #4,586 nationally. That is 50% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #412 in 1920, #928 in 1950, #2,548 in 1980, #8,195 in 2000, #12,663 in 2010, and #4,586 in 2025. Of the 9,234 US girls named Enid since records began, 22% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 1,442 babies. Since 2010, 407 more have been named Enid.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Alene, Rubye, Leora, Mozelle, and Hortense.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Enid is usually pronounced EE-nihd, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with E and ends in “-id”.
Middle names for Enid
A few middle names that flow with Enid: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Enid
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Lists that include Enid
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Enid mean?
Enid is a Welsh name that means “soul, life”.
What is the origin of the name Enid?
Enid has Welsh roots. Enid is a Welsh name, usually explained as soul or life, from the Welsh enaid.
Is Enid a popular name?
Not especially. Enid ranked #4,586 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Enid a boy or girl name?
Enid is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Enid?
Enid is usually pronounced EE-nihd. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings