A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Wood since 1880
Babies named Wood per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2023, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Wood's real moment was 1882.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 27 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 85 |
| 1920s | 76 |
| 1930s | 40 |
| 1940s | 29 |
| 1950s | 13 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 45 |
Meaning & origin
The name Wood, while uncommon today, has a long history as a surname and later a given name. First recorded in 1880, it peaked in popularity in 1882, but has been very rare since. Since 2019, however, its trajectory has been rising, suggesting a potential revival as nature-themed names gain appeal. With a rank of 9,714th in 2025 and an occurrence rate of about 1 in 244,011 boys, Wood remains a distinctive choice for those seeking a simple, earthy name rooted in English topography.
Wood is a topographic surname turned given name, derived from Old English 'wudu' meaning 'wood' or 'forest'. It originally denoted someone who lived by or worked in a woodland. As a given name, it emerged in the late 19th century, likely inspired by surnames or as a nature-themed choice, but it has always been rare.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Woody
Sibling names for Wood
Names that share Wood's style, for a brother or sister.
