Elmer
Boy name · #1222 in 2025 · Uniqueness 59/100
Elmer is currently the #1222 boy name in the United States — 165 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1205, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,909 boys born in 2025 was named Elmer.
The 145-year story
Elmer first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 373 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 4,373 boys were named Elmer — good for #44 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Elmer per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elmer against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elmer in class?
Elmer scores 59 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Elmer is most common
Geography matters for names, and Elmer is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Elmers were PA (26), TX (17), CA (14), IN (13), MI (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Elmer
Statistically, parents drawn to Elmer tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Wilmer, Omer, Luther, Ervin, and Emil.
WilmerOmerLutherErvinEmilLesterErwinElvin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elmer | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 165 | #1222 |
| 2024 | 181 | #1155 |
| 2023 | 140 | #1346 |
| 2022 | 168 | #1191 |
| 2021 | 160 | #1207 |
| 2020 | 138 | #1308 |
| 2019 | 175 | #1118 |
| 2018 | 145 | #1261 |
| 2017 | 151 | #1213 |
| 2016 | 169 | #1141 |
| 2015 | 153 | #1205 |
| 2014 | 169 | #1130 |
| 2013 | 158 | #1144 |
| 2012 | 143 | #1237 |
| 2011 | 181 | #1046 |
| 2010 | 195 | #1005 |
| 2009 | 227 | #909 |
| 2008 | 182 | #1041 |
| 2007 | 244 | #857 |
| 2006 | 221 | #889 |
| 2005 | 227 | #826 |
| 2004 | 214 | #832 |
| 2003 | 307 | #649 |
| 2002 | 227 | #760 |
| 2001 | 237 | #734 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elmer a popular boy name?
Elmer ranked #1222 among boys in 2025 with 165 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1205.
When was the name Elmer most popular?
Elmer peaked in 1918, when 4,373 American boys received the name (ranked #44 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elmer?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,909 newborn American boys was named Elmer. It scores 59/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.