Elwood
Elwood is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Elder tree wood or old forest.
Origin and history
Elwood originates as an English surname derived from a place name meaning 'elder wood' or 'old forest'. Popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the U.S., it retains a vintage, classic charm. In modern times, it is relatively uncommon but steadily used.
Popularity in the United States
20,786 babies in the United States have been named Elwood since 1880. It ranks #824 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1599.
States where it is most popular
- PA (24.1 %)
- VA (8 %)
- NC (6.3 %)
- NJ (5.8 %)
- NY (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 274 |
| 1890-1900 | 356 |
| 1900-1910 | 504 |
| 1910-1920 | 3,908 |
| 1920-1930 | 5,494 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,553 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,593 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,642 |
| 1960-1970 | 880 |
| 1970-1980 | 421 |
| 1980-1990 | 233 |
| 1990-2000 | 146 |
| 2000-2010 | 115 |
| 2010-2019 | 339 |
| 2020-2029 | 328 |
Famous people named Elwood
- Elwood Haynes: Inventor, Industrialist
- Elwood Jensen: Biologist, Researcher
Nicknames
Woody, El
Fun facts
- The name is famously associated with Elwood Blues, played by Dan Aykroyd in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.
- It originally denoted someone who lived near an elder wood or old timberland in medieval England.