Given name & surname · also Old English
Elmer
“a renowned and noble man”
In English use, Elmer has a related form in Aylmer. One English interpretation is “a renowned and noble man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Elmer has a related form in Aylmer. One English interpretation is “a renowned and noble man.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old English.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Elmer through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 131,344
- 129,591 boys · 1,753 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 4,416 babies
- 2025
- 165
- #1,223 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +5%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 165 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,223 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 4.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 4,373 in 1918. In 2025, Pennsylvania had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (26). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 38,051 as a first name in 2020; 5,555 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.
Elmer’s family of names
In English usage, Elmer has a short form in Elmo. In English usage, Elmer has a feminine form in Elmira. Elmer has a related form in Elmar.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Elmer has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Old English roots to each of them.
10 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Elmer
- Elmer BernsteinAmerican composer and conductor (1922-2004)
- ChayannePuerto Rican singerborn 1968
- Butch HartmanAmerican animator (born 1965)
- Elmer RiceAmerican playwright (1892–1967)
- Elmer Drew MerrillU.S. botanist (1876–1956)
- Elmer Niklanderathletics competitor (1890–1942)
- Elmer CliftonAmerican film director (1890–1949)
- Elmer McCollumAmerican biochemist (1879-1967)
- Elmer Ambrose SperryAmerican mechanical engineer (1860–1930)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Elmer, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lester
“roman fort” · “a man from Leicester”
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Elton
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Edmond
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Elden
“an old friend”
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Elmore
“from the moor of the elm trees”
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Webster
“a weaver”
>99% boys