Woodrow ranks #1,694 among American baby names, with 39,005 boys carrying this name across SSA history — a figure that includes one U.S. president and a slow, steady revival driven by the same vintage-name wave that brought back Theodore and Walter.
A Middle English Surname Turned First Name
Woodrow is an English surname-turned-given-name with sturdy occupational roots. It derives from the Middle English wode-rowe, meaning "row of trees by a wood" — essentially a topographic surname for someone who lived along the edge of a forest. This kind of landscape surname becoming a first name is a classic American naming move, one that gives a boy's name a sense of groundedness and connection to the natural world. If you're drawn to nature-adjacent Old English names, you'll find plenty of company browsing Old English names.
The Wilson Effect and the Vintage Revival
The name's most famous bearer is Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, who served from 1913 to 1921. Wilson was born Thomas Woodrow Wilson and went by his middle name professionally — a detail that adds an interesting layer for parents considering it today. The name rode a wave of early twentieth-century presidential prestige before falling steeply out of fashion by mid-century. Now it's climbing back, quietly buoyed by the same cultural appetite for names like Walter, Harold, and Chester. These names feel simultaneously retro and fresh — old enough to be distinctive, young enough in their revival to still feel like a discovery. The nickname Woody, famously worn by Toy Story's beloved cowboy sheriff, gives Woodrow a built-in playful childhood alias that then gracefully steps back as the full name matures.
Who Chooses Woodrow Today
Woodrow attracts parents who are comfortable going slightly off the beaten path while staying firmly within recognizable American naming tradition. It's a name for families who want something with genuine historical weight rather than manufactured uniqueness — a name that can walk into a boardroom or a kindergarten classroom with equal ease. It pairs naturally with traditional middle names: Woodrow James, Woodrow Henry, Woodrow Elliott. For parents exploring Woodrow, similar names in the same vintage-revival lane include Roscoe, Percival, and Barnaby — all names with deep roots and freshly minted appeal.