Given name & surname
Woods
“a woman of the forest”·“a man of the forest”
Woods is a variant of Woody. Interpretations include “a woman of the forest” (American) and “a man of the forest” (American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Woods is a variant of Woody. Interpretations include “a woman of the forest” (American) and “a man of the forest” (American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Woods through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 699
- 688 boys · 11 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 127 babies
- 2025
- 127
- #1,476 for boys · #14,840 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +203%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 121 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,476 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 195.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 6 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Utah had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 407 as a first name in 2020; 172,463 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.
Woods’s family of names
Woods has a related form in Woody. In English usage, Woods as a surname has a related form in Wood.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Woods, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Foster
“a forest ranger”
93% boys · 7% girls
Ford
“from the water” · “from the river crossing”
>99% boys
Locke
“man of the forest” · “from the fortress”
>99% boys
Jett
“resembling the jet-black lustrous gemstone”
98% boys · 2% girls
Hudson
“one who is adventurous; an explorer” · “the son of Hugh; from the river”
99% boys · 1% girls
Walding
“wood, forest”
—
Wickley
“from the village meadow”
>99% boys
Leland
“from the meadow land”
98% boys · 2% girls