Given name & surname
Elder
“from the elder tree”
Elder is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the elder tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the elder tree.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Elder through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,320
- 2,268 boys · 52 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 58 babies
- 2025
- 47
- #2,725 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +22%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 47 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,725 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 22.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,337 as a first name in 2020; 28,711 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elder’s family of names
Elder has a related form in Eldar. Elder has a related form in Eldor. Elder has a related form in Eldir.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Elder
- Élder HerreraColombian racing cyclistborn 1968
- Elder FigueroaColombian footballerborn 1980
- Elder Roma Wilsongospel harmonica player and singer (1910-2018)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elder, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Woods
“a woman of the forest” · “a man of the forest”
98% boys · 2% girls
Jett
“resembling the jet-black lustrous gemstone”
98% boys · 2% girls
Locke
“man of the forest” · “from the fortress”
>99% boys
Ford
“from the water” · “from the river crossing”
>99% boys
Hudson
“one who is adventurous; an explorer” · “the son of Hugh; from the river”
99% boys · 1% girls
Bentley
“from the meadow of bent grass”
95% boys · 5% girls
Usher
“from the mouth of the river” · “from. the mouth of the river”
>99% boys
Ashurst
“ash-tree”
—