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 was quite popular between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a significant increase in its usage starting around 1885. The peak of popularity occurred in 1912 with 1840 births, followed by a steady decline throughout the 20th century. By the year 2023, the name Elmer has become quite rare, with only 139 births recorded. Overall, there have been a total of 129,229 births with the name Elmer since 1880.