Given name & surname
Eldridge
“a wise ruler”
Eldridge is used as a given name and a surname. One German interpretation is “a wise ruler.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One German interpretation is “a wise ruler.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
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
Eldridge through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,247
- 5,247 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 120 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #11,041 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +7%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 11,041 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 7.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 120 in 1924. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,918 as a first name in 2020; 24,175 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.
Eldridge’s family of names
Eldridge has a related form in Eldredge. Eldridge has a related form in Eldrege. Eldridge has a related form in Eldrige.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Eldridge
- "Superstar" Billy GrahamAmerican wrestler (1943–2023)
- Eldridge CleaverAmerican activist (1935–1998)
- Eldridge R. JohnsonAmerican businessman and inventor (1867-1945)
- Eldridge RecasnerAmerican basketball player (born 1967)
- Eldridge RojerDutch footballerborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Eldridge, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Edsel
“one who is plain” · “one who is noble and bright”
>99% boys
Elbert
“a wellborn man” · “a bright man”
>99% boys
Erwin
“a friend of the wild boar”
>99% boys
Bertram
“the renowned bright raven”
>99% boys
Odell
“a sweet melody” · “one who is wealthy”
98% boys · 2% girls
Werner
“of the defending army”
>99% boys
Norbert
“one who shines from the north”
>99% boys
Adolph
“a noble, majestic wolf”
>99% boys