The first name Elwood
A boy’s name from English meaning “elf”, “rule”.
Pronounced /ˈɛlwʊd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Elwood means “elf”, “rule” in English.
From the Middle English personal name Elwald, Elwold, Alwold, which is composed of the Old English elements ælf (“elf”) and weald (“rule”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 15 boys were named Elwood, making it the 1,705th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 39 births (#810).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Elwood with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Elwood at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 81 boys born in the United States were named Elwood, the 1,921st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 613 were.
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.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Allwood
- Ellwood
Famous people named Elwood
6 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Elwood HaynesAmerican inventor (1857–1925)
- Elwood V. JensenAmerican biologist (1920-2012)
- Elwood HillisAmerican politician (1926–2023)
- Elwood MeadAmerican academic and politician (1858-1936)
- Claude ShannonAmerican mathematician and information theorist (1916–2001)
- Robert BlyAmerican poet, author, and activist (1926–2021)
More English boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Elwood mean?
- Elwood means “elf”, “rule” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Elwood?
- From the Middle English personal name Elwald, Elwold, Alwold, which is composed of the Old English elements ælf (“elf”) and weald (“rule”).
- How popular is the name Elwood?
- In 2025, 15 boys born in England and Wales were named Elwood, ranking 1,705th. Its peak was 2018, with 39 births.
- Is Elwood a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 20,839 US babies named Elwood since 1880 were boys.
- When was Elwood most popular?
- 1921 in the United States, when 613 babies were named Elwood, its highest rank at 215th.
- How do you pronounce Elwood?
- Elwood is /ˈɛlwʊd/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Elwood?
- Allwood and Ellwood.
- Is Elwood also a surname?
- Yes. Elwood is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.