Elwin Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Elwin is of Old English origin, meaning 'elf friend'. The name has evolved through several historical forms, maintaining its core elements that suggest friendship with mystical beings. It does not have biblical relevance. Elwin gained historical popularity in the 19th century and continues to be perceived as a unique name with a vintage charm.
The name Elwin is most popular in Vermont, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest 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, Elwin has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male 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 male in West. Across generations, 'Elwin' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 555th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 695th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1136th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2741st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4037th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6054th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6997th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Elwin' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Elwin"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛl.wɪn/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Elwin comes from the Old English elements 'ælf', meaning 'elf', and 'wine', meaning 'friend'. Therefore, it can be interpreted as 'elf friend'.
Meaning
Elf friend
Language Evolution
Ælfin, Elwen, Elwin
Historical Usage
Elwin has been used in England since the Anglo-Saxon period, but it gained more popularity during the 19th century as parents sought unique and meaningful names.
Variants & Derivatives
Elwyn, Alwin, Alwyn
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Elwin is seen as a unique and somewhat vintage name, often appreciated for its ties to nature and fantasy through the meaning related to elves.
Famous People
Elwin Ransom (a fictional character in C.S. Lewis's 'Space Trilogy'), Elwin E. McKinney (an American politician)
Explore More Elwin Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Elwin"
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 "Elwin"
"Elwin" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 555th of 7545 | 2,016 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 695th of 6773 | 1,444 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1136th of 7552 | 836 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2741st of 10718 | 211 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4037th of 16616 | 199 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6054th of 24088 | 196 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6997th of 23106 | 138 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Elwin" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
27.82% 394th/1416 |
28.28% 390th/1379 |
63.27% 1497th/2366 |
46.32% 529th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
35.64% 551st/1546 |
34.51% 537th/1556 |
64.26% 1512th/2353 |
46.22% 715th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
45.44% 1012th/2227 |
43.33% 1053rd/2430 |
57.17% 1631st/2853 |
60.61% 1682nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
64.02% 3325th/5194 |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Elwin" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| 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 "Elwin"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Elwin" 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.