Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Elmer

Elmer is an old Anglo-Saxon given name derived from the Olde English Æðelmær, composed of the Germanic elements æðel meaning “noble” and mær meaning “famous”. In later medieval times, Elmer morphed into a patronymic surname (i.e., one that’s passed from the father’s personal name). It became popularized in the United States as a given name by the 19th century in honor of the Elmer brothers, Jonathan (1745-1817) and Ebenezer (1752-1843) who were high profile politicians during the American Revolution. Unfortunately, in the latter half of the 20th century, the name became too closely associated with cartoon character Elmer Fudd who first appeared in the 1940 animated feature “Elmer’s Candid Camera” alongside his career nemesis Happy Rabbit (later known as Bugs Bunny). Elmer Fudd has usually been depicted as a somewhat hapless hunter with a speech impediment tiptoeing through the woods “hunting wittle gway wabbits”. His archenemy Bugs Bunny almost always outwits him and nearly drives him insane. Unfortunately due to the success of this loveably endearing character, the name Elmer has become synonymous with bumbling fools for most folks.

All About the Baby Name – Elmer

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME ELMER

The number Eight personality has everything to do with power, wealth and abundance. Somehow, this personality has been blessed on the material plane, but their authoritative and problem-solving traits provide evidence that their good fortunes are not just the luck of the lottery. They are well earned. This is the personality of CEOs and high-ranking military personnel. Eights are intensely active, hard-driving individuals. Success is only meaningful to them after a job well-done.  They are remarkable in their ability to see the larger picture right down to the smallest details, and organize a strategy around success. They then have the ability to direct a group around them toward any goal, and realize individual potential to get the most out of their team.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME ELMER

Elmer wasn’t always associated with Elmer Fudd. In fact, this name was ultra-popular for baby boys from the 19th century on up through the early half of the 20th century. In fact, Elmer was a Top 100 favorite baby boy’s name nationwide from 1880 to 1937 (1880 is the farthest back we have available data). In 1900, for example, Elmer was the 38th most popular boy’s name in the country! That’s basically equivalent to names like Wyatt and Brayden today. However, 1938 marks the first year Elmer would lose his Top 100 standing, and from there he pretty much descended steadily down the charts. The 1970s and 80s saw the biggest drops for old Elmer, a period of time when Looney Toon cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd were quite popular on children’s Saturday morning TV. The name also probably became too synonymous with Elmer Glue, a staple in elementary classrooms nationwide. Elmer is essentially an out-dated name no longer in circulation (at least not enough to eke out a position on America’s Top 1000 list). It’s simply too old-manish and “fudd”y-duddy by today’s modern standards. But you have to admit – it’s still quite charming in an old-fashioned sort of way.

Quick Facts

ON ELMER

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

N/A

PRONUNCIATION:

EL-mәr

SIMPLE MEANING:

Noble and famous

Characteristics

OF ELMER

Authoritative

Powerful

Tough

Tenacious

Wealthy

Problem-solver

Achiever

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Elmer

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ELMER

Elmer Gantry is the titular anti-hero of Sinclair Lewis’ 1927 novel of the same name, and was memorably played by Burt Lancaster (who won the Academy Award) in the 1960 film. Elmer Gantry is a self-serving, hypocritical and amoral man who rises to riches and power through the Christian evangelical circuit. The book was received by a horrified public, and Lewis was reviled for telling a somewhat obvious truth about the genre. Elmer is a finely drawn character in his pursuit of his own earthly goals, whose heedlessness destroys many around him. While still a timely indictment of the vagaries of certain aspects of organized religion, the book and movie more importantly provide a riveting portrait of unadulterated evil-doing in the name of Christianity.

Elmer J. Fudd is a cartoon character in the Warner Brothers’ “Looney Tunes” series, who is the avowed enemy of the wily Bugs Bunny. Elmer is a short-tempered, bald fellow dressed in hunting clothes who is the nemesis of Bugs, always being after him with buckshot, all the while yelling about “that pesky wabbit”. Bugs’ rejoinder, while sprinting off, is inevitably: "Eh, what's up doc?". Irascible though he is, Elmer Fudd is always somehow likeable, perhaps no more so than when he was evoked by Robin Williams singing Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire” ala Elmer (think “…dwivin’ in my cawah..”)..

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ELMER

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Elmer


Popular Songs

ON ELMER

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Elmer


Famous People

NAMED ELMER

Elmer Bernstein (American composer)
Elmer Rice (American playwright)
Elmer Drew Merrill (American botanist)
Elmer Layden (football player/coach)
Elmer Lach (ice hockey player)
Elmer Dessens (baseball player)

Children of Famous People

NAMED ELMER

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Elmer

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ELMER

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Elmer