Elmer Boy

Popularity: #746 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EL-mer /ˈɛlmər/

Origin: German; English

Meaning: German: noble; English: famous

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Elmer has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "ael" meaning "noble" and "maer" meaning "famous" or "renowned." This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to "noble and famous." The name was introduced into the English language during the Anglo-Saxon period, where it was used as a given name and also appeared in various forms in Old English texts. Over time, it evolved through Middle English before becoming established in its modern form by the 19th century.

Historically, the name Elmer is associated with several notable figures and events. One significant milestone is the use of the name in the 19th century, particularly in the United States, where it gained traction among English-speaking populations.

The name is also linked to the literary work of the American author Elmer Davis, who was prominent in the early to mid-20th century. Additionally, Elmer is sometimes associated with the Elmer's Glue brand, which further solidified its presence in American culture during the 20th century.

Culturally, Elmer has been used in various contexts, often embodying qualities of strength and nobility. The name has appeared in folklore and popular media, contributing to its resonance in American culture.

Diminutive forms such as "El" have occasionally been used, although they are less common. Overall, Elmer reflects a blend of historical significance and cultural associations that have allowed it to endure through the centuries.

Famous people named Elmer

In this section, you will find notable people named Elmer. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Elmer who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Elmer who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Elmer Fudd is a cartoon character best known for his role in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.

Elmer Bernstein was a composer best known for his work on The Magnificent Seven, Ghostbusters, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Elmer Davis was a journalist and radio broadcaster best known for his work with CBS and as the director of the Office of War Information during World War II.

Fictional characters named Elmer

The following list of fictional characters named Elmer is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Elmer Fudd is a fictional character from the Looney Tunes franchise. He is a hapless hunter known for his iconic speech impediment and his ongoing rivalry with Bugs Bunny.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Elmer, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Elmer. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Elmer was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Elmer has ranked as high as #102 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri.

In the past 5 years the name Elmer has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Elmer is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Elmer was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Elmer (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
PA 25
20%
TX 18
15%
CA 11
9%
GA 10
8%
IN 10
8%
NY 8
6%
KY 7
6%
MD 7
6%
FL 7
6%
TN 6
5%
AZ 5
4%
OH 5
4%
IA 5
4%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Elmer.

YearBirths
2024178
2023140
2022168
2021160
2020138
2019175
2018145
2017151
2016168
2015153
2014169
2013158
2012143
2011181
2010195
2009226
2008182
2007243
2006221
2005226
2004212
2003307
2002227
2001237
2000188
1999178
1998215
1997222
1996225
1995212
1994186
1993205
1992236
1991210
1990215
1989167
1988168
1987160
1986149
1985140
1984163
1983150
1982151
1981157
1980162
1979191
1978166
1977176
1976184
1975187
1974222
1973209
1972245
1971271
1970286
1969300
1968307
1967306
1966319
1965376
1964389
1963409
1962434
1961478
1960515
1959529
1958549
1957660
1956656
1955714
1954673
1953688
1952761
1951842
1950809
1949867
1948970
1947997
19461,046
1945969
19441,069
19431,311
19421,228
19411,202
19401,220
19391,328
19381,330
19371,413
19361,412
19351,592
19341,709
19331,787
19322,058
19312,265
19302,476
19292,697
19282,977
19273,205
19263,233
19253,356
19243,731
19233,630
19223,738
19214,146
19204,206
19193,982
19184,373
19173,812
19163,936
19153,802
19142,878
19132,323
19121,840
1911894
1910760
1909687
1908689
1907616
1906598
1905602
1904620
1903556
1902574
1901520
1900699
1899514
1898583
1897587
1896576
1895610
1894575
1893574
1892592
1891508
1890528
1889557
1888527
1887467
1886485
1885443
1884523
1883423
1882441
1881388
1880373