Woodrow Boy

Popularity: #825 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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
19%
CA 6
12%
NC 6
12%
AL 5
10%
UT 5
10%
ID 5
10%
MO 5
10%
OK 5
10%
TN 5
10%

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.

YearBirths
202499
202384
202288
202192
202091
201978
201881
201773
201677
201559
201457
201333
201235
201139
201044
200929
200833
200727
200619
200532
200429
200336
200232
200124
200023
199939
199840
199764
199654
199539
199450
199362
199271
199170
199068
198973
198864
198750
198677
198564
198462
198386
198288
198184
198094
197997
197894
1977109
1976105
1975100
197497
1973120
1972136
1971144
1970147
1969156
1968148
1967154
1966148
1965168
1964196
1963191
1962201
1961215
1960208
1959180
1958215
1957239
1956233
1955283
1954305
1953303
1952354
1951362
1950334
1949388
1948428
1947485
1946470
1945503
1944524
1943559
1942480
1941481
1940443
1939424
1938405
1937357
1936282
1935272
1934217
1933222
1932293
1931236
1930212
1929213
1928230
1927338
1926306
1925375
1924516
1923484
1922622
1921684
1920774
19191,808
19183,358
19172,428
19162,668
19151,966
19141,785
19132,333
19121,843
1911121
191045
190924
190817
190711
19067
19025
19008