Elmer

English
"noble and renowned"

Elmer Origin and Meaning

The name Elmer is a boy's name of English origin meaning "noble and renowned".

Thanks to Elmer Fudd, Elmer the Cow, and even Elmer's glue, this name has become a bit of a joke -- the quintessential so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out name. But with its trendy El-beginning and popular er-ending, who knows?

Hard as it may be to believe today, Elmer was a Top 100 name for at least 50+ years--until 1937--hitting Number 38 at the turn of the last century. One literary reference is the title character in Sinclair Lewis's novel Elmer Gantry; real life namesakes include playwright Elmer Rice and composer Elmer Bernstein. "Elmer's Tune" is a jazz classic.

# 925 in the US

Elmer Rank in US Top 1000

# 1422 on Nameberry

Elmer Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Elmer Popularity

Famous People Named Elmer

  • Elmer Rice
    American playwright
  • Elmer Sperry
    American inventor
  • Elmer Bernstein
    American composer
  • Elmer Drew Merrill
    American botanist
  • Elmer Francis Layden
    American NFL player, coach and commissioner
  • (John William) Elmer Thomas
    U.S. Senator from Oklahoma
  • Elmer James Lach
    Canadian ice hockey player
  • Elmer Dessens (Jusaino)
    Mexican baseball player
  • Elmer Ellsworth "Sy" Sutcliffe
    American baseball player
  • Elmer Earl "Butch" Hartman
    American animator

Elmer in Pop Culture

  • Elmer Fudd
    Loony Tunes character
  • Elmer Elephant
    Silly Symphonies cartoon character
  • "Elmer Gantry
    " novel by Sinclair Lewis, film, and its main character
  • Elmer the Bull
    mascot for Elmer's Glue