Woody Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WOOD-ee //ˈwʊdi//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: wood; Old English: from the woods
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Woody is derived from the Old English word "wudu," meaning "wood" or "forest." This etymological root reflects a connection to nature and the outdoors, which is further emphasized by its association with the term "wooden," referring to something made of wood. The name Woody is often considered a diminutive or affectionate form of the name Woodrow, which itself originates from the Old English "wudu" and "row," meaning "a row of houses by a wood." As such, Woody carries connotations of rustic charm and simplicity, rooted in the natural world.
Historically, the name Woody has been used in various contexts, though it gained particular prominence in the 20th century. One notable figure is Woody Guthrie (1912-1967), an influential American folk musician whose work resonated with themes of social justice and the American experience during the Great Depression.
His legacy helped to cement the name in popular culture, particularly within the realm of music and activism. Additionally, the character Woody from the animated film series "Toy Story," introduced in the 1990s, further popularized the name, associating it with themes of friendship and loyalty.
Culturally, the name Woody evokes imagery of the pastoral and the rustic, often symbolizing a connection to the earth and a simpler way of life. This connection is reflected in various literary and artistic works that celebrate nature and rural living.
The name's enduring appeal can be attributed to its warm, approachable sound and its associations with beloved characters and historical figures. While Woody may not have deep historical roots in terms of saints or monarchs, its cultural significance has been shaped by its use in literature and music, making it a name that resonates with themes of authenticity and tradition.
Famous people named Woody
In this section, you will find notable people named Woody. 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 Woody who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Woody 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.
Woody Allen is a filmmaker and actor best known for Annie Hall, Manhattan, and Midnight in Paris.
Woody Harrelson is an actor best known for Cheers, The Hunger Games, and Zombieland.
Fictional characters named Woody
The following list of fictional characters named Woody 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.
Woody is a fictional character from the Toy Story film series. He is a pull-string cowboy doll who serves as the leader of the toys and is known for his loyalty to his friends.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Woody, 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 Woody. 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 Woody was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Woody has ranked as high as #1320 nationally, which occurred in 1946, and has been most popular in Texas, North Carolina, California, Tennessee, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Woody has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Woody 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 Woody 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 Woody.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 2022 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2011 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2006 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2005 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2000 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1999 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1996 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1995 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1994 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1993 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1992 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1991 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1990 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1989 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1988 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1987 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1986 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1985 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1984 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1983 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1982 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1981 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1980 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1979 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1978 | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 1977 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| 1976 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1975 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1974 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1973 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1972 | 57 | 57 | 0 |
| 1971 | 53 | 53 | 0 |
| 1970 | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| 1969 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 1968 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1967 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| 1966 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1965 | 56 | 56 | 0 |
| 1964 | 56 | 56 | 0 |
| 1963 | 73 | 73 | 0 |
| 1962 | 72 | 72 | 0 |
| 1961 | 80 | 80 | 0 |
| 1960 | 74 | 74 | 0 |
| 1959 | 78 | 78 | 0 |
| 1958 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| 1957 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1956 | 84 | 84 | 0 |
| 1955 | 81 | 81 | 0 |
| 1954 | 72 | 72 | 0 |
| 1953 | 96 | 96 | 0 |
| 1952 | 86 | 86 | 0 |
| 1951 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1950 | 85 | 85 | 0 |
| 1949 | 84 | 84 | 0 |
| 1948 | 82 | 77 | 5 |
| 1947 | 109 | 109 | 0 |
| 1946 | 116 | 116 | 0 |
| 1945 | 101 | 101 | 0 |
| 1944 | 105 | 105 | 0 |
| 1943 | 97 | 97 | 0 |
| 1942 | 70 | 70 | 0 |
| 1941 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1940 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1939 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 1938 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1937 | 42 | 37 | 5 |
| 1936 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1935 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 1934 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1933 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 1932 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1931 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1930 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1929 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1928 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1927 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1926 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1925 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1924 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1923 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1922 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1921 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1920 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1919 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1918 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1917 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1916 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1915 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1914 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1913 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1912 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1911 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1910 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1904 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1900 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1897 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1886 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1884 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1883 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1882 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Woody (1999)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 5 |