Woodrow Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WOOD-roh //ˈwʊd.roʊ//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: 'row of houses by a wood'; Old English: 'wood clearing'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Woodrow is of English origin, derived from the Old English elements "wudu," meaning "wood," and "row," which refers to a row of trees or a grove. The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, where it likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.
The transition into modern English occurred through the evolution of the language from Old English to Middle English, where the components of the name retained their meanings, ultimately forming the recognizable name Woodrow by the 19th century. Historically, the name Woodrow gained prominence in the early 20th century, particularly due to the influence of Woodrow Wilson, who served as the 28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921.
His leadership during World War I and his role in the establishment of the League of Nations contributed to the name's association with political leadership and reform. The name also appears in various literary works and historical texts, reflecting its integration into the cultural fabric of English-speaking societies.
Culturally, Woodrow carries connotations of strength and stability, often associated with natural imagery due to its roots in woodland terminology. The name evokes a sense of connection to nature, which has historically been significant in English literature and folklore.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as Woody have emerged, reflecting a more informal and affectionate usage, though the name Woodrow itself maintains a formal and dignified presence in historical contexts.
Famous people named Woodrow
In this section, you will find notable people named Woodrow. 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 Woodrow who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Woodrow 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.
Woodrow Wilson is a U.S. President best known for leading the country during World War I, promoting the League of Nations, and his Fourteen Points.
Fictional characters named Woodrow
The following list of fictional characters named Woodrow 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.
Woodrow Wilson is a fictional character from the video game BioShock Infinite. He is a prominent figure in the game's alternate history, representing the 28th President of the United States in a world filled with political and social upheaval.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Woodrow, 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 Woodrow. 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 Woodrow was first seen in the United States in 1900.
Woodrow has ranked as high as #135 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Woodrow has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Woodrow 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 Woodrow was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Woodrow (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 10 | |
| CA | 6 | |
| NC | 6 | |
| AL | 5 | |
| UT | 5 | |
| ID | 5 | |
| MO | 5 | |
| OK | 5 | |
| TN | 5 |
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 Woodrow.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 99 |
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2022 | 88 |
| 2021 | 92 |
| 2020 | 91 |
| 2019 | 78 |
| 2018 | 81 |
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2016 | 77 |
| 2015 | 59 |
| 2014 | 57 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2011 | 39 |
| 2010 | 44 |
| 2009 | 29 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2007 | 27 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2005 | 32 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2002 | 32 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2000 | 23 |
| 1999 | 39 |
| 1998 | 40 |
| 1997 | 64 |
| 1996 | 54 |
| 1995 | 39 |
| 1994 | 50 |
| 1993 | 62 |
| 1992 | 71 |
| 1991 | 70 |
| 1990 | 68 |
| 1989 | 73 |
| 1988 | 64 |
| 1987 | 50 |
| 1986 | 77 |
| 1985 | 64 |
| 1984 | 62 |
| 1983 | 86 |
| 1982 | 88 |
| 1981 | 84 |
| 1980 | 94 |
| 1979 | 97 |
| 1978 | 94 |
| 1977 | 109 |
| 1976 | 105 |
| 1975 | 100 |
| 1974 | 97 |
| 1973 | 120 |
| 1972 | 136 |
| 1971 | 144 |
| 1970 | 147 |
| 1969 | 156 |
| 1968 | 148 |
| 1967 | 154 |
| 1966 | 148 |
| 1965 | 168 |
| 1964 | 196 |
| 1963 | 191 |
| 1962 | 201 |
| 1961 | 215 |
| 1960 | 208 |
| 1959 | 180 |
| 1958 | 215 |
| 1957 | 239 |
| 1956 | 233 |
| 1955 | 283 |
| 1954 | 305 |
| 1953 | 303 |
| 1952 | 354 |
| 1951 | 362 |
| 1950 | 334 |
| 1949 | 388 |
| 1948 | 428 |
| 1947 | 485 |
| 1946 | 470 |
| 1945 | 503 |
| 1944 | 524 |
| 1943 | 559 |
| 1942 | 480 |
| 1941 | 481 |
| 1940 | 443 |
| 1939 | 424 |
| 1938 | 405 |
| 1937 | 357 |
| 1936 | 282 |
| 1935 | 272 |
| 1934 | 217 |
| 1933 | 222 |
| 1932 | 293 |
| 1931 | 236 |
| 1930 | 212 |
| 1929 | 213 |
| 1928 | 230 |
| 1927 | 338 |
| 1926 | 306 |
| 1925 | 375 |
| 1924 | 516 |
| 1923 | 484 |
| 1922 | 622 |
| 1921 | 684 |
| 1920 | 774 |
| 1919 | 1,808 |
| 1918 | 3,358 |
| 1917 | 2,428 |
| 1916 | 2,668 |
| 1915 | 1,966 |
| 1914 | 1,785 |
| 1913 | 2,333 |
| 1912 | 1,843 |
| 1911 | 121 |
| 1910 | 45 |
| 1909 | 24 |
| 1908 | 17 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1906 | 7 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1900 | 8 |