English and can be French, German and Scandinavian, from Old English "rich war". Early variants include Eadgyth and Edgitha.

Edith, daughter of King Malcolm II of Scotland, was also called Maud or Matilda, but these are not known to be generally synonymous with Edith.

Edith does not occur in the 1841 Census of Aberdeenshire but there is an example of this pet name, Edie.