Elmer
Last seen for girls in 1980 at #10,392 · #1,222 for boys in 2025, 165 births
Given to boys 98.7% of the time
- Peak · boys
- 1893 · 574 births
- Debut · boys
- 373 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 53 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 129,591since 1880
Elmer over time
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #1,222 | 165 | |
| 2024 | — | #1,155 | 181 | |
| 2023 | — | #1,346 | 140 | |
| 2022 | — | #1,191 | 168 | |
| 2021 | — | #1,207 | 160 | |
| 2020 | — | #1,308 | 138 | |
| 2019 | — | #1,118 | 175 | |
| 2018 | — | #1,261 | 145 | |
| 2017 | — | #1,213 | 151 | |
| 2016 | — | #1,141 | 169 | |
| 2015 | — | #1,205 | 153 | |
| 2014 | — | #1,130 | 169 | |
| 2013 | — | #1,144 | 158 | |
| 2012 | — | #1,237 | 143 | |
| 2011 | — | #1,046 | 181 | |
| 2010 | — | #1,005 | 195 | |
| 2009 | — | #909 | 227 | |
| 2008 | — | #1,041 | 182 | |
| 2007 | — | #857 | 244 | |
| 2006 | — | #889 | 221 | |
| 2005 | — | #826 | 227 | |
| 2004 | — | #832 | 214 | |
| 2003 | — | #649 | 307 | |
| 2002 | — | #760 | 227 | |
| 2001 | — | #734 | 237 | |
| 2000 | — | #850 | 188 | |
| 1999 | — | #850 | 178 | |
| 1998 | — | #749 | 215 | |
| 1997 | — | #711 | 222 | |
| 1996 | — | #704 | 225 | |
| 1995 | — | #738 | 212 | |
| 1994 | — | #772 | 186 | |
| 1993 | — | #725 | 205 | |
| 1992 | — | #675 | 236 | |
| 1991 | — | #699 | 210 | |
| 1990 | — | #691 | 215 | |
| 1989 | — | #767 | 167 | |
| 1988 | — | #727 | 168 | |
| 1987 | — | #724 | 160 | |
| 1986 | — | #744 | 149 | |
| 1985 | — | #752 | 140 | |
| 1984 | — | #677 | 163 | |
| 1983 | — | #698 | 150 | |
| 1982 | — | #708 | 151 | |
| 1981 | — | #689 | 157 | |
| 1980 | #10,392 | 5 | #681 | 162 |
| 1979 | — | #618 | 191 | |
| 1978 | — | #651 | 166 | |
| 1977 | — | #639 | 176 | |
| 1976 | — | #598 | 184 | |
| 1975 | #9,067 | 5 | #590 | 187 |
| 1974 | — | #537 | 222 | |
| 1973 | — | #539 | 209 | |
| 1972 | — | #502 | 245 | |
| 1971 | — | #486 | 271 | |
| 1970 | — | #476 | 286 | |
| 1969 | — | #450 | 300 | |
| 1968 | — | #435 | 307 | |
| 1967 | #6,042 | 6 | #434 | 306 |
| 1966 | #6,564 | 5 | #426 | 319 |
| 1965 | — | #405 | 376 | |
| 1964 | #6,009 | 6 | #407 | 389 |
| 1963 | #6,592 | 5 | #398 | 409 |
| 1962 | #6,578 | 5 | #385 | 434 |
| 1961 | — | #363 | 478 | |
| 1960 | #4,437 | 9 | #342 | 515 |
| 1959 | #4,300 | 9 | #337 | 529 |
| 1958 | #3,925 | 10 | #329 | 549 |
| 1957 | #4,536 | 8 | #289 | 660 |
| 1956 | #5,325 | 6 | #286 | 656 |
| 1955 | #4,740 | 7 | #261 | 714 |
| 1954 | #4,655 | 7 | #271 | 673 |
| 1953 | #3,955 | 9 | #265 | 688 |
| 1952 | #3,201 | 12 | #245 | 761 |
| 1951 | #2,937 | 13 | #226 | 842 |
| 1950 | #3,052 | 12 | #226 | 809 |
| 1949 | #2,212 | 20 | #215 | 866 |
| 1948 | #2,491 | 16 | #203 | 971 |
| 1947 | #2,898 | 13 | #201 | 997 |
| 1946 | #3,034 | 11 | #178 | 1,046 |
| 1945 | #2,237 | 15 | #169 | 969 |
| 1944 | #2,027 | 18 | #164 | 1,069 |
| 1943 | #2,352 | 15 | #154 | 1,311 |
| 1942 | #2,046 | 18 | #158 | 1,228 |
| 1941 | #2,096 | 16 | #147 | 1,202 |
| 1940 | #2,297 | 13 | #144 | 1,220 |
| 1939 | #1,514 | 25 | #132 | 1,327 |
| 1938 | #1,650 | 22 | #130 | 1,332 |
| 1937 | #1,493 | 25 | #120 | 1,413 |
| 1936 | #1,186 | 36 | #121 | 1,412 |
| 1935 | #1,381 | 28 | #115 | 1,592 |
| 1934 | #1,190 | 36 | #108 | 1,709 |
| 1933 | #1,330 | 29 | #101 | 1,787 |
| 1932 | #1,213 | 35 | #94 | 2,058 |
| 1931 | #1,199 | 36 | #82 | 2,265 |
| 1930 | #1,128 | 43 | #80 | 2,476 |
| 1929 | #1,015 | 51 | #70 | 2,697 |
| 1928 | #896 | 67 | #63 | 2,977 |
| 1927 | #1,042 | 54 | #61 | 3,205 |
| 1926 | #963 | 60 | #61 | 3,233 |
| 1925 | #1,064 | 51 | #61 | 3,356 |
| 1924 | #1,123 | 48 | #57 | 3,731 |
| 1923 | #1,158 | 44 | #57 | 3,630 |
| 1922 | #1,059 | 51 | #54 | 3,738 |
| 1921 | #1,003 | 56 | #48 | 4,146 |
| 1920 | #1,074 | 48 | #45 | 4,206 |
| 1919 | #984 | 53 | #44 | 3,982 |
| 1918 | #1,126 | 43 | #44 | 4,373 |
| 1917 | #1,013 | 48 | #45 | 3,812 |
| 1916 | #1,059 | 43 | #45 | 3,936 |
| 1915 | #1,000 | 44 | #45 | 3,802 |
| 1914 | #1,119 | 29 | #46 | 2,878 |
| 1913 | #961 | 31 | #45 | 2,323 |
| 1912 | #978 | 27 | #47 | 1,840 |
| 1911 | #932 | 22 | #48 | 894 |
| 1910 | #1,069 | 17 | #48 | 760 |
| 1909 | #761 | 28 | #45 | 687 |
| 1908 | #829 | 22 | #42 | 689 |
| 1907 | #1,384 | 9 | #44 | 616 |
| 1906 | #1,229 | 10 | #42 | 598 |
| 1905 | #797 | 21 | #41 | 602 |
| 1904 | #1,092 | 11 | #39 | 620 |
| 1903 | #1,027 | 12 | #40 | 556 |
| 1902 | #1,320 | 8 | #40 | 574 |
| 1901 | #1,136 | 9 | #38 | 520 |
| 1900 | #885 | 18 | #38 | 699 |
| 1899 | #1,394 | 6 | #37 | 514 |
| 1898 | #963 | 13 | #40 | 583 |
| 1897 | #1,167 | 8 | #34 | 587 |
| 1896 | #1,047 | 10 | #36 | 576 |
| 1895 | #1,592 | 5 | #34 | 610 |
| 1894 | #905 | 12 | #37 | 575 |
| 1893 | #865 | 12 | #32 | 574 |
| 1892 | #908 | 11 | #36 | 592 |
| 1891 | #1,006 | 8 | #36 | 508 |
| 1890 | #940 | 9 | #38 | 528 |
| 1889 | #1,147 | 6 | #34 | 557 |
| 1888 | — | #39 | 527 | |
| 1887 | — | #36 | 467 | |
| 1886 | — | #35 | 485 | |
| 1885 | #745 | 9 | #40 | 443 |
| 1884 | — | #35 | 523 | |
| 1883 | — | #40 | 423 | |
| 1882 | — | #38 | 441 | |
| 1881 | — | #38 | 388 | |
| 1880 | — | #41 | 373 | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Elmer was already there! It came in at #41, and was given to 373 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 2010–2025, when fewer than 200 boys a year got the name.
Where Elmer is popular in 1938
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Kentucky#59 · 1 in 304
- Delaware#61 · 1 in 278
- Maryland#66 · 1 in 356
- Tennessee#69 · 1 in 367
- Virginia#76 · 1 in 353
Best ever in a state: #12 in Nevada, 1913.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | #59 | 92 | 1 in 304 |
| Delaware | #61 | 6 | 1 in 278 |
| Maryland | #66 | 35 | 1 in 356 |
| Tennessee | #69 | 73 | 1 in 367 |
| Virginia | #76 | 66 | 1 in 353 |
| Oklahoma | #85 | 55 | 1 in 383 |
| Arkansas | #87 | 44 | 1 in 414 |
| Missouri | #87 | 61 | 1 in 456 |
| Pennsylvania | #89 | 118 | 1 in 646 |
| District of Columbia | #93 | 10 | 1 in 529 |
| West Virginia | #103 | 34 | 1 in 564 |
| Wisconsin | #107 | 37 | 1 in 670 |
| Maine | #108 | 11 | 1 in 565 |
| South Dakota | #108 | 10 | 1 in 487 |
| Minnesota | #115 | 35 | 1 in 642 |
| Kansas | #116 | 25 | 1 in 530 |
| Michigan | #117 | 50 | 1 in 886 |
| Idaho | #119 | 9 | 1 in 506 |
| Montana | #120 | 7 | 1 in 624 |
| Oregon | #120 | 11 | 1 in 639 |
| North Dakota | #122 | 9 | 1 in 588 |
| Illinois | #126 | 63 | 1 in 906 |
| Colorado | #129 | 14 | 1 in 667 |
| Ohio | #131 | 58 | 1 in 909 |
| Indiana | #137 | 29 | 1 in 931 |
| North Carolina | #139 | 46 | 1 in 776 |
| Nebraska | #141 | 13 | 1 in 769 |
| Florida | #144 | 17 | 1 in 813 |
| New Jersey | #148 | 15 | 1 in 1,698 |
| Washington | #153 | 12 | 1 in 981 |
| Iowa | #154 | 19 | 1 in 1,055 |
| Alabama | #158 | 28 | 1 in 982 |
| New Mexico | #159 | 8 | 1 in 709 |
| Mississippi | #160 | 22 | 1 in 975 |
| Connecticut | #169 | 5 | 1 in 2,088 |
| Georgia | #184 | 23 | 1 in 1,286 |
| Texas | #189 | 63 | 1 in 939 |
| Utah | #191 | 5 | 1 in 1,054 |
| California | #209 | 29 | 1 in 1,624 |
| Louisiana | #222 | 15 | 1 in 1,426 |
| South Carolina | #222 | 11 | 1 in 1,763 |
| New York | #245 | 24 | 1 in 3,677 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Elmer
- 67 spots since 2024 (#1,155 → #1,222)
- 86 spots since 2020 (#1,308 → #1,222)
- 17 spots since 2015 (#1,205 → #1,222)
- Biggest jump: 132 spots in 2009 (#1,041 → #909)
- Biggest drop: 184 spots in 2008 (#857 → #1,041)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1893 at #32 (574 births)
- Births halved by 1970, 77 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 53 yrs · run 1880–1932
- Top 1,000: 129 yrs · run 1880–2007
- Highest: 1 in 192 boys born in 1897 were named Elmer (0.52%)
- Latest: 1 in 10,352 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
- Its best rank, #32 in 1893, was only 1 in 196 (0.51%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 26.9% of all boys named Elmer (34,919) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 4,627 | #34 (1889) | #38 |
| 1890s | 5,647 | #32 (1893) | #36 |
| 1900s | 6,161 | #38 (1900) | #41 |
| 1910s | 28,600 | #44 (1918) | #46 |
| 1920s | 34,919 | #45 (1920) | #58 |
| 1930s | 17,371 | #80 (1930) | #108 |
| 1940s | 10,879 | #144 (1940) | #173 |
| 1950s | 6,881 | #226 (1951) | #274 |
| 1960s | 3,833 | #342 (1960) | #405 |
| 1970s | 2,137 | #476 (1970) | #564 |
| 1980s | 1,567 | #677 (1984) | #717 |
| 1990s | 2,104 | #675 (1992) | #731 |
| 2000s | 2,274 | #649 (2003) | #835 |
| 2010s | 1,639 | #1,005 (2010) | #1,150 |
| 2020s | 952 | #1,155 (2024) | #1,238 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Elmer in 1938
Top girls' names in 1938
Top boys' names in 1938
More about 1938
girls
1,103,456 girls got a published name in 1938; 1 in 50,157 of them was named Elmer, which outranked 67.0% of the 4,995 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #1,596Walda23
- #1,596Wava23
- #1,596Zetta23
- #1,650Elmer22
- #1,650Alean22
- #1,650Alease22
- #1,650Alethia22
- #1,703Abby21
- #1,703Amber21
- #1,703Ardys21
Tied with 52 names at #1,650; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,109,147 boys got a published name in 1938; 1 in 833 of them was named Elmer, which outranked 96.8% of the 4,035 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.