Elmer is a unique and distinctive name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "ælmaer" which means "work" or "noble". The name has been used for centuries, but it was not until the late 19th century that it began to gain popularity as a given name.
The name Elmer first appeared in literature in the works of the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. In his Canterbury Tales, written in the late 14th century, one of the characters is named Elmer. However, it was not until the publication of the novel "Elmer Gantry" by Sinclair Lewis in 1927 that the name began to be widely used as a given name.
Despite its relatively recent use as a given name, Elmer has a rich history and cultural significance. In addition to its appearance in Chaucer's works, the name has also been used in other forms of literature and popular culture. For example, there is a character named Elmer Fudd in the Looney Tunes cartoons, who is famous for his pursuit of the rabbit Bugs Bunny.
Today, Elmer remains a unique and distinctive name, but it is not widely used. According to data from the Social Security Administration, fewer than 10 boys were given the name Elmer in each year between 2000 and 2019. Nevertheless, those who bear this name carry with them a rich history and cultural significance that dates back centuries.
The name Elmer has been quite popular in the United States over the past century and a half, with a significant number of babies being named Elmer each year. Between 1880 and 1891, the birth rate for boys named Elmer fluctuated between 373 to 592 births per year. However, there was a notable increase in popularity starting in 1912, with 1840 births recorded that year.
The popularity of the name Elmer peaked in the early 20th century, particularly during World War I and its aftermath. Between 1912 and 1923, over 60,000 babies were named Elmer, with a high of nearly 4400 births recorded in 1918. This period saw the highest concentration of Elmer births, accounting for approximately half of all Elmers born in the United States during the given time frame.
After World War I, the popularity of the name Elmer began to decline steadily. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, fewer than 200 babies were named Elmer each year on average. This downward trend continued throughout much of the remainder of the century, with only minor fluctuations in popularity.
Despite its decline in popularity as a first name, Elmer has remained relatively stable as a middle or given name in recent years. Between 1984 and 2023, there have been an average of approximately 150 boys named Elmer each year in the United States.
In total, according to the provided statistics, over 129,000 babies were named Elmer in the United States between 1880 and 2023. This data showcases the enduring appeal of the name Elmer throughout American history, particularly during its peak popularity in the early 20th century.