Elmo Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Elmo is an Italian name derived from the diminutive of 'Ermanno', meaning helmet or protection. It evolved through historical forms such as 'Herman' before becoming popular in modern culture through the character from 'Sesame Street'. The name carries traits of cheerfulness and friendliness, with no significant biblical relevance.
The name Elmo is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Elmo has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Elmo' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 314th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 507th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 907th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1934th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4234th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13297th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 17702nd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2561st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5956th out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Elmo' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Elmo"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛlmoʊ/
Origin
Italian
Etymology
The name Elmo is derived from the Italian name 'Elm', which is a diminutive of the name 'Ermanno' or 'Herman'. The name is often associated with Saint Elmo, a Christian martyr.
Meaning
helmet, protection
Language Evolution
Ermanno, Herman, Elmo
Historical Usage
The name Elmo gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly due to the character Elmo from the children's television show 'Sesame Street', which was first introduced in the 1970s.
Variants & Derivatives
Ermanno, Herman, Ellie
Modern Popularity & Image
Elmo is often seen as a cheerful and friendly character, embodying innocence and playfulness, making the name popular among parents for boys.
Famous People
Elmo (Sesame Street character), Elmo O'Dwyer (Australian footballer)
Explore More Elmo Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Elmo"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Elmo"
"Elmo" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 314th of 7545 | 5,338 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 507th of 6773 | 2,499 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 907th of 7552 | 1,280 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1934th of 10718 | 362 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4234th of 16616 | 186 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 13297th of 24088 | 44 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 17702nd of 23106 | 16 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2561st of 9107 | 215 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5956th of 9204 | 32 |
Regional Popularity of "Elmo" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
22.88% 324th/1416 |
47.72% 658th/1379 |
10.23% 242nd/2366 |
25.74% 294th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
40.43% 625th/1546 |
59.58% 927th/1556 |
16.19% 381st/2353 |
40.98% 634th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
58.24% 1297th/2227 |
60.91% 1480th/2430 |
25.10% 716th/2853 |
44.68% 1240th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
49.61% 1728th/3483 |
44.37% 1561st/3518 |
53.07% 2146th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
52.45% 2724th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Elmo" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
100.00% 2366th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Elmo"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Elmo" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.