Elwood Boy

Popularity: #857 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EL-wood //ˈɛl.wʊd//

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: Old English: 'elder tree' or 'from the elder tree forest'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Elwood has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "ælle," meaning "noble," and "wudu," meaning "wood." This etymological combination suggests a literal meaning of "noble wood" or "from the noble woods." The name evolved through various forms, with its earliest occurrences in the Anglo-Saxon period, before being recorded in Middle English as "Elwod." The transition into modern English maintained the phonetic structure while adapting to the linguistic shifts of the time. Historically, Elwood appears in various records from the medieval period, with notable mentions in English literature and documentation.

The name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is associated with landholdings in England. Additionally, Elwood has been borne by several notable figures throughout history, including Elwood P.

Dowd, a character in the 1944 play "Harvey" by Mary Chase, which has contributed to its cultural resonance. The name has also been linked to various saints and religious figures, although none are as prominently recognized as those associated with more common names.

Culturally, Elwood carries connotations of strength and nobility, reflective of its etymological roots. The association with nature, specifically woodlands, may evoke imagery of tranquility and resilience, which has allowed the name to endure through centuries.

While diminutive forms such as Woody may arise in informal contexts, the name Elwood itself has retained a sense of formality and historical significance. Overall, Elwood encapsulates a blend of noble heritage and natural imagery, contributing to its lasting appeal in various cultural narratives.

Famous people named Elwood

In this section, you will find notable people named Elwood. 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 Elwood who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Elwood 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.

Elwood Blues is a fictional character best known for The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000.

Elwood P. Dowd is a fictional character best known for the play and film Harvey.

Fictional characters named Elwood

The following list of fictional characters named Elwood 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.

Elwood P. Dowd is a fictional character from the play and film Harvey. He is a kind-hearted man who believes in the existence of an invisible rabbit named Harvey, which complicates his social life.

Sibling suggestions

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

EdwardElliotEthanEmmettEvanElias

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Elwood. 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.

AlfredArnoldHaroldGeraldWilburElmerEldonEugene

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Elwood has ranked as high as #476 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Elwood has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Elwood 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 Elwood was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Elwood.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 81 81 0
2024 71 71 0
2023 41 41 0
2022 43 43 0
2021 50 50 0
2020 42 42 0
2019 33 33 0
2018 39 39 0
2017 43 43 0
2016 51 51 0
2015 52 52 0
2014 36 36 0
2013 29 29 0
2012 20 20 0
2011 17 17 0
2010 19 19 0
2009 15 15 0
2008 13 13 0
2007 13 13 0
2006 11 11 0
2005 11 11 0
2004 12 12 0
2003 10 10 0
2002 5 5 0
2001 11 11 0
2000 14 14 0
1999 15 15 0
1998 15 15 0
1997 15 15 0
1996 17 17 0
1995 7 7 0
1994 15 15 0
1993 11 11 0
1992 11 11 0
1991 20 20 0
1990 20 20 0
1989 29 29 0
1988 17 17 0
1987 17 17 0
1986 21 21 0
1985 17 17 0
1984 17 17 0
1983 19 19 0
1982 30 30 0
1981 32 32 0
1980 34 34 0
1979 33 33 0
1978 42 42 0
1977 25 25 0
1976 41 41 0
1975 37 37 0
1974 39 39 0
1973 50 50 0
1972 43 43 0
1971 57 57 0
1970 54 54 0
1969 65 65 0
1968 66 66 0
1967 69 69 0
1966 77 77 0
1965 75 75 0
1964 103 103 0
1963 93 93 0
1962 108 108 0
1961 104 104 0
1960 120 120 0
1959 120 120 0
1958 131 131 0
1957 144 144 0
1956 153 153 0
1955 157 157 0
1954 192 192 0
1953 164 164 0
1952 194 194 0
1951 208 208 0
1950 179 179 0
1949 206 206 0
1948 239 239 0
1947 270 270 0
1946 239 239 0
1945 223 223 0
1944 253 253 0
1943 287 287 0
1942 285 285 0
1941 303 303 0
1940 288 288 0
1939 280 280 0
1938 315 315 0
1937 326 326 0
1936 299 299 0
1935 314 314 0
1934 375 375 0
1933 393 385 8
1932 375 375 0
1931 422 422 0
1930 467 462 5
1929 410 405 5
1928 484 479 5
1927 541 534 7
1926 547 542 5
1925 577 571 6
1924 606 606 0
1923 566 566 0
1922 592 592 0
1921 625 613 12
1920 586 586 0
1919 589 589 0
1918 572 572 0
1917 528 528 0
1916 526 526 0
1915 529 529 0
1914 373 373 0
1913 322 322 0
1912 262 262 0
1911 114 114 0
1910 93 93 0
1909 66 66 0
1908 59 59 0
1907 52 52 0
1906 49 49 0
1905 36 36 0
1904 52 52 0
1903 58 58 0
1902 33 33 0
1901 48 48 0
1900 51 51 0
1899 34 34 0
1898 35 35 0
1897 49 49 0
1896 35 35 0
1895 43 43 0
1894 33 33 0
1893 29 29 0
1892 40 40 0
1891 34 34 0
1890 24 24 0
1889 29 29 0
1888 31 31 0
1887 24 24 0
1886 31 31 0
1885 28 28 0
1884 26 26 0
1883 24 24 0
1882 29 29 0
1881 29 29 0
1880 23 23 0

Top States for Elwood (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 8
42%
WI 6
32%
WA 5
26%