Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1946

Woody

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #8,220

Woody, also spelled Woodie, is a masculine given name in its own right or a pet form of Woodrow and other names such as Elwood or Heywood.

Rank 2025
#8,220
among boys · ↓490 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
10
named Woody
How common
1 in 170,808
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1946
116 babies
All-time total
4,246
#1,999 all-time among boys
First recorded
1882
in Social Security records

Woody popularity over time

4,246 babies have been named Woody since 1882, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 27 27 3 – #762
1890s – 5 5 1 -81% #1,226
1900s – 12 12 1 +140% #1,159
1910s – 160 160 16 +1233% #1,265
1920s – 206 206 21 +29% #1,411
1930s 5 305 310 31 +50% #899
1940s 5 910 915 92 +195% #600
1950s – 813 813 81 -11% #734
1960s – 577 577 58 -29% #857
1970s – 471 471 47 -18% #1,078
1980s – 287 287 29 -39% #1,793
1990s – 212 212 21 -26% #2,303
2000s – 92 92 9 -57% #5,036
2010s – 79 79 8 -14% #5,756
2020s (to 2025) – 80 80 13 +69% #5,058

The story of Woody

Woody is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,220 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1882, 4,246 American babies have been named Woody. Its peak came in 1946, when 116 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Woody stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Woody?

The median living Woody is about 61 years old; half are between 44 and 73. An estimated 2,800 people named Woody are alive in the United States today.

median 61 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Woody year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – 10 #8,220
2024 – – 11 #7,730
2023 – – 20 #5,058
2022 – – 17 #5,619
2021 – – 12 #7,070
2020 – – 10 #8,023
2019 – – 7 #10,756
2018 – – 16 #5,756
2017 – – 5 #14,155
2016 – – – –
2015 – – 6 #12,029
2014 – – 10 #8,095
2013 – – 9 #8,746
2012 – – 9 #8,830
2011 – – 9 #8,731
2010 – – 8 #9,652
2009 – – 8 #9,826
2008 – – 9 #8,989
2007 – – – –
2006 – – 9 #8,690
2005 – – 14 #5,862
2004 – – 10 #7,514
2003 – – 8 #8,609
2002 – – 10 #7,024
2001 – – 9 #7,506
2000 – – 15 #5,036
1995 – – 24 #3,017
1990 – – 31 #2,303
1985 – – 34 #1,793
1980 – – 29 #1,964
1975 – – 39 #1,426
1970 – – 52 #1,158
1965 – – 56 #995
1960 – – 74 #890
1955 – – 81 #817
1950 – – 85 #749
1945 – – 101 #606
1940 – – 68 #749
1935 – – 35 #1,122
1930 – – 22 #1,601
1925 – – 17 #2,008
1920 – – 21 #1,745
1915 – – 21 #1,552
1910 – – 5 #1,836
1905 – – – –
1900 – – 7 #1,159
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Woody

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Woody Allen Woody Allen American filmmaker, actor and writer (born 1935) Contemporary
  2. 2 Woody Harrelson Woody Harrelson American actor (born 1961) Contemporary
  3. 3 Woody Guthrie Woody Guthrie American singer-songwriter (1912–1967) Contemporary
  4. 4 Woody Strode Woody Strode American athlete and actor (1914–1994) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Woody, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Woody?

The median living Woody is about 61 years old. Half of all living Woodys are between 44 and 73 years old.

How many people named Woody are alive today?

An estimated 2,800 people named Woody are alive in the United States, based on 4,246 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Woody mean?

Woody, also spelled Woodie, is a masculine given name in its own right or a pet form of Woodrow and other names such as Elwood or Heywood.

How popular is the name Woody in 2025?

Woody ranked #8,220 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Woody?

4,246 babies have been named Woody in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Woody most popular?

Woody peaked in 1946, when 116 newborns received the name.

Is Woody a boy or girl name?

Woody is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Woody rising or falling?

Woody is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Woody?

Well-known people named Woody include Woody Allen (film director), Woody Harrelson (actor), Woody Guthrie (musician).

Names like Woody

Names that sound and feel close to Woody: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Woody with similar names → More names starting with W →