Total births
147
Boys' name · since 1912
Woodruff
Since 1912, U.S. Social Security records show 147 babies named Woodruff, peaking in 1917. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 147
- total births
- 1912–1959
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
Woodruff is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 147 have been recorded since 1912.
Woodruff has 147 recorded births among boys since 1912, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1912 to 1959.
- 147 total births
- 1912–1959 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 39% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
147 boys have been named Woodruff since 1912, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1959.
- 147
- total births
- 1912–1959
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
39% of everyone ever named Woodruff was born in this single decade.
1917
Single peak year
18 babies were named Woodruff in 1917 - its busiest year on record.
Woodruff's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Woodruff splits its recorded history at 1926: 39% of all births land in the more recent half, 61% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1923 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1917 peak of 18 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Woodruff at a glance
Last recorded 1959Peak year
1917
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1912
Woodruff popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–1959
- Peak year (1917)
- 18
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Woodruff by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Woodruff's strongest decade.
57 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 39% of all-time use.
Woodruff births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
42 births
- 1920s
1920s
57 births
- 1930s 13
1930s
13 births
- 1940s 18
1940s
18 births
- 1950s 17
1950s
17 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 57 births (39% of all-time use).
Woodruff by state
Where Woodruff concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Utah | | 5 | 3.4% |
Utah share of Woodruff's total US births 3.4%
5 of 147 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Woodruff? ▼
Woodruff has been given to 147 babies in the U.S. since 1912, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1959. 18 babies were born in 1917, its single highest year.
When was Woodruff most popular? ▼
Woodruff was most popular in the 1920s decade with 57 total births. The single peak year was 1917.
Where is Woodruff most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Woodruff are Utah (5 births).
How long has the name Woodruff been used? ▼
Records for Woodruff go back to 1912, giving 48 years of history through 1959.
What names are similar to Woodruff? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Woodrow, Woody, Woodie, Woodson, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Woodruff's data
- Woodruff's decade-level peak was the 1920s (57 total births); usage has since declined to 17 in the 1950s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Utah records the most Woodruffs (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Utah names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Woodruff
Nearby Names Like Woodruff
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Woodruff
Woodrow Boy
#1690 39,107 births
Woody Boy
#7271 4,236 births
Woodie Boy
1,924 births
Woodson Boy
#2719 1,359 births
Woodroe Boy
784 births
Compare Woodruff side by side: Woodruff vs Woodrow Woodruff vs Woody Woodruff vs Woodie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1912–1959 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Woodruff: Baby Name Since 1912 - 147 Births, Peak 1917." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/woodruff. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Woodruff draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.