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    The first name Elmer

    A boy’s name from English meaning “noble”, “famous”.

    Pronounced /ˈɛlmɚ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Elmer means “noble”, “famous” in English.

    Medieval variant of the given name Aylmer, from Old English Æþelmǣr, from æþel (“noble”) + mǣre (“famous”).

    More names that mean famous, noble.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Elmer last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 5 boys.

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    21
    babies named Elmer, 1996–2025
    #3,688
    rank in 2024
    2024
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Elmer with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Elmer at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 165 boys born in the United States were named Elmer, the 1,223rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 4,373 were.

    02,5005,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    131,344
    babies named Elmer since 1880
    #1,223
    rank in 2025
    1918
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Elmer in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Aalmar
    Dutch
    Elmeri
    Finnish, also Elmer
    Elmar
    German
    Έλμερος
    Élmeros
    Greek
    Elmārs
    Latvian

    Spelled Elmer in Danish and Swedish too.

    Famous people named Elmer

    34 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Elmer Bernstein
      American composer and conductor (1922-2004)
    • Elmer Rice
      American playwright (1892–1967)
    • Elmer Niklander
      Athletics competitor (1890–1942)
    • Elmer McCollum
      American biochemist (1879-1967)
    • Elmer Clifton
      American film director (1890–1949)
    • Elmer Ambrose Sperry
      American mechanical engineer (1860–1930)
    • Elmer Diktonius
      Finnish poet (1896-1961)
    • Elmer Bennett
      American basketball player (born 1970)
    • Elmer Lach
      Canadian ice hockey player (1918–2015)
    • Elmer Booth
      American actor (1882-1915)
    • Harry Elmer Barnes
      American historian and holocaust denier (1889–1968)
    • Daniel Elmer Salmon
      American veterinarian (1850-1914)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Elmer mean?
    Elmer means “noble”, “famous” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Elmer?
    Medieval variant of the given name Aylmer, from Old English Æþelmǣr, from æþel (“noble”) + mǣre (“famous”).
    How popular is the name Elmer?
    In 2024, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Elmer, ranking 3,688th.
    Is Elmer a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 131,344 US babies named Elmer since 1880 were boys.
    When was Elmer most popular?
    1918 in the United States, when 4,373 babies were named Elmer, its highest rank at 44th.
    How do you pronounce Elmer?
    Elmer is /ˈɛlmɚ/, 2 syllables.
    Is Elmer also a surname?
    Yes. Elmer is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.