Elwood
Boy name · #1919 in 2025 · Uniqueness 43/100
Elwood is currently the #1919 boy name in the United States — 81 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2429, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 22,222 boys born in 2025 was named Elwood.
Babies named Elwood per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Elwood first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 23 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 613 boys were named Elwood — good for #215 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elwood against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elwood in class?
Elwood scores 43 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 Elwood is most common
Geography matters for names, and Elwood is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Elwoods were CA (8), IL (7), WA (7), MI (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Elwood
Statistically, parents drawn to Elwood tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Edmond, Edmund, Boyd, Harland, and Emile.
EdmondEdmundBoydHarlandEmileEveretteEldonOswald
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elwood | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 81 | #1919 |
| 2024 | 71 | #2098 |
| 2023 | 41 | #3005 |
| 2022 | 43 | #2919 |
| 2021 | 50 | #2588 |
| 2020 | 42 | #2846 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 39 | #2994 |
| 2017 | 43 | #2798 |
| 2016 | 51 | #2477 |
| 2015 | 52 | #2429 |
| 2014 | 36 | #3090 |
| 2013 | 29 | #3582 |
| 2012 | 20 | #4686 |
| 2011 | 17 | #5200 |
| 2010 | 19 | #4848 |
| 2009 | 15 | #5800 |
| 2008 | 13 | #6393 |
| 2007 | 13 | #6262 |
| 2006 | 11 | #6904 |
| 2005 | 11 | #6634 |
| 2004 | 12 | #6138 |
| 2003 | 10 | #6715 |
| 2002 | 5 | #10667 |
| 2001 | 11 | #6013 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elwood a popular boy name?
Elwood ranked #1919 among boys in 2025 with 81 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2429.
When was the name Elwood most popular?
Elwood peaked in 1921, when 613 American boys received the name (ranked #215 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elwood?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,222 newborn American boys was named Elwood. It scores 43/100 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.