MallowbyNames

Elmer

EL-mur · Of uncertain origin; possibly derived from the Old English name Æðelmær, meaning 'noble' or 'famous'.

2025 rank (boys)
#1,222
Babies named in 2025
165
Peak popularity
1897
2025 frequency
1 in 10,352 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Holding steady

Holding steady, #1,222 for boys today.

Popularity of Elmer since 1880

Babies named Elmer per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Elmer's real moment was 1897.

1.5k2.9k4.4k1880192019602000Most births 1918Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1880s4,627
1890s5,647
1900s6,161
1910s28,600
1920s34,919
1930s17,371
1940s10,879
1950s6,881
1960s3,833
1970s2,137
1980s1,567
1990s2,104
2000s2,274
2010s1,639
2020s952

Meaning & origin

Elmer is a name of uncertain origin, often traced to the Old English Æðelmær, meaning 'noble' or 'famous'. It experienced its greatest popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, peaking at rank 1897 (its peak year) when it was a common choice for boys in states like Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Kansas. Currently, it is much rarer, ranking 1222 in 2025, with only 1 in 10,352 boys receiving the name. While its trajectory has been stable rather than revivalist, Elmer retains a classic, vintage feel.

Elmer is of uncertain origin, but it is most commonly traced to the Old English name Æðelmær, composed of æðele 'noble' and mær 'famous'. It was revived in the 19th century, partly due to the influence of the popular author Horatio Alger, who used it for characters, and also because of the biblical name Elmer (though not actually biblical, it was sometimes associated with Elisha). The name peaked in the 1890s and has since declined in use.

Where Elmer is most popular

Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few births

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: El, Elmy

Variants: Elmar, Elmore

Sibling names for Elmer

Names that share Elmer's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Mabel, Clara, Ethel, Irene, Lillian, Eunice, Leola, Melba, Myra, Thelma, Velma, Verna, Wilma, Alline, Alva, Belva, Bulah, Delma, Doretha, Dovie, Elnora, Elva, Esta, Eulah, Gussie, Hettie, Idella, Iola, Izetta, Laverna, Lelia, Letha, Loretha, Louella, Lovie, Luella, Lula, Lura, Marva, Mayme, Mertie, Mozella, Mozelle, Nelda, Ocie, Oleta, Pearlie, Retta, Selma, Tillie, Verda, Vernie, Wilda, Willetta, Zelma, Almeda, Ardelia, Arletha, Arletta, Arvella, Arvilla, Awilda, Beaulah, Bernetta, Buelah, Classie, Cleora, Cleta, Clora, Corena, Creola, Delcie, Delora, Delpha, Delsie, Edra, Elba, Eldora, Elvera, Elzie, Eura, Fleta, Genevia, Glendora, Joella, Kizzie, Lavada, Laveta, Lavona, Lemon, Loma, Lorean, Louetta, Luetta, Luvenia, Mallie, Margene, Melda, Merna, Minda, Myrle, Myrtie, Neoma, Oneta, Onnie, Osie, Ozella, Reatha, Rella, Ressie, Tennie, Theola, Trula, Vallie, Velda, Vennie, Veola, Verlie, Vernita, Versie, Vertie, Veva, Waneta, Wanita, Wava, Zula, Adline, Aldine, Almedia, Aloma, Altie, Alvenia, Alverna, Anona, Arleta, Arva, Bama, Beadie, Belma, Belvia, Berdena, Bernece, Berneda, Beula, Beuna, Birda, Blonnie, Brooksie, Buna, Byrdie, Carlean, Celester, Claretha, Cledith, Clella, Cleola, Cleona, Cloteal, Dallie, Deetta, Dellar, Dicie, Docia, Doreatha, Dosha, Doshie, Dossie, Eathel, Elmina, Elmyra, Elner, Elnor, Elsia, Elzora, Eola, Ermine, Ersie, Estes, Eudelia, Eulala, Evelene, Fleda, Fleeta, Flonnie, Fredna, Fronia, Genora, Hazelle, Hellon, Imo, Ireta, Ivah, Izola, Ladora, Lajean, Lajune, Laveda, Lavella, Lavergne, Laverta, Leetta, Lelar, Lemmie, Leoma, Letti, Leva, Levonia, Lodema, Loetta, Loleta, Lonita, Lovena, Lovenia, Lovetta, Lubertha, Luevenia, Lurena, Lurene, Luretha, Mada, Marnita, Maudell, Mayola, Merla, Metta, Mettie, Mossie, Myrta, Nelma, Nelva, Nezzie, Odean, Odelle, Odessie, Oletha, Olinda, Oneda, Oralee, Orma, Orva, Pecola, Pecolia, Reather, Relda, Reola, Roena, Rozelle, Savilla, Valeda, Vassie, Velmer, Velna, Velta, Venna, Vergia, Vermell, Verneda, Vicie, Vietta, Virda, Virdie, Wauneta, Weltha, Willamae, Willma, Wylma, Wynema, Yola, Zelpha, Albirta, Alfretta, Almarie, Almena, Almyra, Altamese, Alzada, Anola, Arcola, Areatha, Arkie, Arlita, Arloa, Armilda, Arretta, Arzella, Berdella, Berdina, Chlora, Chriselda, Cliffie, Cloma, Clorine, Clotee, Conda, Delcia, Dellia, Delva, Dezzie, Doshia, Doylene, Ednamae, Elery, Elky, Eloyce, Elverna, Emmalou, Ercell, Esley, Eular, Evamae, Everlene, Fayetta, Floyce, Frona, Gilma, Glenora, Goldia, Gurtha, Iline, Inza, Iretha, Irva, Jilda, Junella, Ladona, Lamona, Lattie, Laverda, Laverle, Leeta, Lema, Lestine, Lonia, Louvinia, Lovett, Lucindy, Luretta, Lutisha, Luwana, Mahaley, Marvie, Maydell, Melvena, Melvenia, Melvie, Melvine, Mirtie, Modene, Monteen, Necie, Norva, Obera, Odeal, Odella, Oletta, Oleva, Oneita, Orena, Orlinda, Orvilla, Oveda, Ozelle, Rilda, Rogena, Talma, Tempie, Thelda, Tiney, Venora, Vercie, Verlena, Verneta, Verta, Vinia, Waldine, Waunita, Willadene, Willodene, Wilsie, Wretha, Zellie, Almeter, Birdella, Elvy, Elzina, Olamae, Alga, Alleta, Almetta, Alnita, Alsie, Alveria, Alveta, Alvine, Alzina, Arcenia, Armetta, Arneda, Arthella, Asalee, Axie, Belvie, Berdia, Bernetha, Birdena, Clemma, Clessie, Clevie, Deletha, Delona, Deloyce, Delrose, Delsa, Denelda, Dicy, Donzella, Dovey, Dulcy, Earma, Eldena, Eldoris, Elgene, Elmarie, Elnita, Eltha, Elverda, Elverta, Elveta, Elzada, Elzena, Ermel, Ertha, Etoy, Ettamae, Eudell, Eulamae, Eupha, Evona, Ezelle, Felma, Flara, Francile, Gaynel, Glema, Guelda, Idonna, Ileta, Inetha, Lemma, Lenoria, Leveda, Loveda, Loyda, Ludella, Lulamae, Lummie, Luvena, Luverna, Mazella, Milta, Minetta, Myrel, Norvella, Ocia, Odester, Olar, Oleda, Onedia, Onetta, Oreatha, Orra, Orvetta, Otie, Ovetta, Phala, Philena, Quida, Reathel, Recie, Renelda, Sible, Suda, Twylla, Valta, Velvia, Velvie, Venida, Verbie, Verdine, Verley, Verneal, Verneice, Versia, Virdell, Wahneta, Walsie, Waunetta, Welda, Welma, Wilmetta, Winola, Wynonia, Zeffie, Zelta, Zenola

Brothers: Ernest, Chester, Herman, Otis, Wilbur, Alton, Clifton, Clyde, Dewey, Elton, Roscoe, Willard, Alford, Alvah, Barton, Buford, Burton, Cletis, Cletus, Delmar, Delmer, Early, Edson, Eldridge, Ellwood, Ervin, Harmon, Hobart, Kermit, Laroy, Linwood, Luverne, Mervin, Millard, Norris, Odell, Olin, Orval, Orvil, Orville, Otha, Ozie, Rayfield, Ruel, Weldon, Wilburn, Wilford, Wilton, Almon, Alonza, Alvie, Arland, Artis, Arvel, Arvil, Bernell, Burdette, Chauncy, Clemon, Cleophus, Deward, Dolphus, Edsel, Elgie, Elmore, Elroy, Elson, Estill, Ewell, Ezell, Furman, Haskell, Hazen, Hillard, Leeroy, Lennis, Lyman, Malvin, Manford, Manley, Milburn, Montie, Mozell, Norton, Obie, Oris, Ottis, Ozell, Prentiss, Rollie, Rosco, Vernal, Vester, Virgle, Alger, Almer, Alvester, Ancil, Armstead, Arvie, Bascom, Beecher, Bufford, Buren, Burney, Burnis, Clell, Cleven, Cloyce, Deforest, Deloy, Denson, Dewaine, Doss, Eldo, Eliga, Elmon, Erby, Ermal, Erven, Ezzard, Garlin, Grafton, Harless, Harrel, Horton, Hulon, Irven, Isham, Jiles, Lafe, Leman, Leodis, Levert, Levester, Lilburn, Lillard, Lindon, Linville, Lonzie, Luster, Malvern, Melburn, Milfred, Norvel, Oddie, Odus, Opie, Orrie, Orris, Orvel, Orvis, Othel, Overton, Pervis, Pinkney, Raeford, Rube, Rulon, Terril, Thurlow, Tolbert, Vernis, Virgel, Vollie, Waldon, Wilbern, Wilmar, Windle, Winferd, Woodford, Worley, Alben, Alvy, Arby, Arlester, Artice, Bera, Bluford, Borden, Bueford, Burdell, Burley, Carthel, Caswell, Chalmer, Cleston, Clydell, Comer, Crockett, Delman, Delmus, Deloss, Dencil, Dewie, Duward, Ebb, Elbridge, Elester, Elkin, Elmus, Elver, Elzy, Erbie, Esco, Estus, Eural, Fermon, Firman, Garnie, Harvel, Herschell, Huel, Hurman, Inman, Irvan, Lecil, Leldon, Levell, Littleton, Loman, Lytle, Mancel, Mansel, Maston, Murvin, Norville, Oather, Odel, Odies, Ollen, Olney, Onis, Orbie, Percell, Rabon, Ranson, Rollen, Sebron, Shermon, Thelmer, Thermon, Verbon, Verdon, Verlan, Verland, Wadell, Welby, Williard, Willmer, Colburn, Dorance, Elman, Elmond, Hulan, Leston, Olander, Rual, Algia, Alphus, Argel, Arlander, Arvle, Aulden, Aulton, Azell, Burwell, Carless, Claudy, Cleatus, Cottrell, Culver, Delmo, Denvil, Earmon, Elber, Elby, Elster, Elsworth, Elward, Elzia, Farmer, Flemon, Forney, Garvis, Gurnie, Hasten, Hilman, Hoyte, Hubbert, Ledell, Leray, Lomax, Loomis, Lorance, Luvern, Mervil, Milferd, Narvel, Noris, Odas, Offie, Oley, Olis, Olman, Orby, Ordean, Orvan, Orvell, Orvie, Orvile, Philmore, Plez, Rastus, Remer, Sargent, Tildon, Virgal, Wildon, Willford, Wilman, Zebbie

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

E is for Elmer, our favorite little boy.

E is for Elmer…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Elmer's letter becomes Elmer's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Elmer's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Elmer mean?
Elmer is of uncertain origin, but it is often considered to mean 'noble' or 'famous' from its possible Old English roots.
How popular is Elmer currently?
Elmer was ranked 1222 in 2025, with approximately 1 in 10,352 baby boys given that name.
Is Elmer a boy or girl name?
Elmer is used almost exclusively for boys.