NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Woodrow

A masculine name from English meaning "row of houses by the woods".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Woodrow is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Woodrow popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1517, with 17 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 28 births.

This profile covers 332 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 61% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 330 living people in the UK are called Woodrow. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Woodrow ranked #1517 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 17 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 28 boys were registered as Woodrow.
  • About 330 living people in the UK are estimated to have Woodrow as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1517

2024

Births in 2024

17

Latest year

Peak year

2015

28 births

Estimated living

330

2026

Meaning

What does Woodrow mean?

The given name Woodrow has its origins in the English language, emerging during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the combination of two Old English words: "wudu," meaning "wood," and "row," which refers to a row or line of trees or a clearing in a forest.

The earliest recorded use of the name Woodrow dates back to the 13th century, when it was mentioned in various historical records and documents from England. It was likely used as a surname initially, referring to someone who lived near a wooded area or worked in the forestry industry.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Woodrow was Woodrow Wyatt, an English politician and writer who lived from 1918 to 1997. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his outspoken views on various political and social issues.

In the United States, the name Woodrow gained significant prominence due to Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, who served from 1913 to 1921. Born in 1856 and died in 1924, Wilson was a prominent academic and leader known for his role in World War I and his efforts to establish the League of Nations.

Another notable figure with the name Woodrow was Woodrow Wyatt, a British Labour Party politician and writer who lived from 1918 to 1997. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his outspoken views on various political and social issues.

In the realm of literature, Woodrow Parfrey was an American author and publisher who lived from 1956 to 2005. He founded the publishing house Feral House and was known for his work on counterculture and alternative topics.

Woodrow Wilkins was an American professional baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1920s and 1930s. He was born in 1898 and died in 1970.

While the name Woodrow is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history and has been carried by notable figures in various fields, from politics and literature to sports and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Woodrow over time

The chart below shows babies named Woodrow registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Woodrow, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 17 births in 2024, compared with 28 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Woodrow
07142128199720102024

Decades

Woodrow by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Woodrow was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1370 99 5
2010s #1424 194 10
2000s #2699 36 6
1990s #2859 3 1

Related

Names similar to Woodrow

FAQ

Woodrow: questions and answers

How popular is the name Woodrow in the UK right now?

In 2024, Woodrow was ranked #1517 for boys in England and Wales, with 17 births registered.

When was Woodrow most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 28 babies registered as Woodrow in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Woodrow?

A masculine name from English meaning "row of houses by the woods".

How many people are called Woodrow in the UK?

A total of 332 babies have been registered as Woodrow across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.