Elmer
How to say it: EL-mer · /ˈɛlmər/
From Old English 'Aethelmaer': 'aethel' (noble) + 'maer' (famous). Means nobly famous.
Elmer was the 1,077th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 165 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are up about 8% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #1,034 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,077 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 165 |
| Share of births | 1 in 20,092 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | +8% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,034 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long past its high in the 1890s, Elmer remains in steady if modest use. Far below its former level, a gentle rebound looks ahead.
What goes with it
Mellow and soft through two syllables, Elmer feels warm and old fashioned. Herman sits in a similar lane, with El as a simple short form.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Elmer is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, English, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish.
Famous people named Elmer
- Elmer Bernstein (1922–2004)American composer and conductor
- Elmer Rice (1892–1967)American playwright
- Elmer Drew Merrill (1876–1956)U.S. botanist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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