Elwood Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Elwood is of Old English origin, meaning 'elf wood'. It evolved from Ælfwudu to Elwud and finally to Elwood in modern English. The name carries traits of friendliness and approachability and has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and is recognized today through various cultural references.
The name Elwood is most popular in Delaware, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast 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, Elwood 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, 'Elwood' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 225th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 308th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 589th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1168th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3050th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5711th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2800th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5980th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6507th out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Elwood' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Elwood"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛl.wʊd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Elwood is derived from the Old English elements 'ælf' meaning 'elf' and 'wudu' meaning 'wood', thus translating to 'elf wood'.
Meaning
Elf wood
Language Evolution
Ælfwudu (Old English), Elwud (Middle English), Elwood (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Elwood gained popularity in the 19th century as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
El, Woody, Elwynn
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Elwood is perceived as a traditional and somewhat vintage name, often associated with friendly and approachable characteristics.
Famous People
Elwood Blues (fictional character from 'The Blues Brothers'), Elwood P. Dowd (fictional character from 'Harvey')
Explore More Elwood Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Elwood"
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 "Elwood"
"Elwood" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 225th of 7545 | 8,971 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 308th of 6773 | 6,076 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 589th of 7552 | 3,123 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1168th of 10718 | 807 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3050th of 16616 | 300 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5711th of 24088 | 216 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2800th of 23106 | 528 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5980th of 9107 | 30 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6507th of 9204 | 23 |
Regional Popularity of "Elwood" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
15.40% 218th/1416 |
10.66% 147th/1379 |
11.45% 271st/2366 |
21.98% 251st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
19.60% 303rd/1546 |
12.79% 199th/1556 |
14.11% 332nd/2353 |
27.80% 430th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
31.75% 707th/2227 |
16.34% 397th/2430 |
19.73% 563rd/2853 |
32.07% 890th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
45.52% 1337th/2937 |
24.46% 852nd/3483 |
33.40% 1175th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
62.37% 2485th/3984 |
- | - |
41.17% 2584th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Elwood" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
94.89% 2245th/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 "Elwood"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Elwood" 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.