Meaning & Origin
A topographic surname from Middle English for a dweller in a row of houses near a wood.
Woodrow is a boy's and girl's baby name of Middle English origin, from the English surname meaning 'row of trees by the wood' or 'dweller in a lane through the woods,' from Middle English wode (wood) and row (lane). President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) cemented the name in American political history.
With over 39,000 U.S. births recorded, Woodrow was a popular American name in the early 20th century. Today it's experiencing a quiet revival among parents drawn to vintage names with substance — Woody is the natural, charming nickname.