Sherwood Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Sherwood is an Old English name meaning 'shire wood', reflecting its origins in a geographical context. It evolved from 'Scirwudu' in Old English to modern forms. The name is associated with nature and has historical connections to the legendary Robin Hood. With no biblical relevance, Sherwood has maintained a traditional image and is recognized for its connections to notable figures in literature and television.
The name Sherwood is most popular in Maine, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sherwood has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Sherwood' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 663rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 605th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 841st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1543rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3664th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 9304th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9453rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8598th out of 9107 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Sherwood' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sherwood"
Pronunciation
/ˈʃɜrwʊd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Sherwood is derived from the Old English elements 'scir', meaning 'shire' or 'district', and 'wudu', meaning 'wood'. It historically referred to someone who lived near or in a wooded area in a shire.
Meaning
shire wood
Language Evolution
Old English: Scirwudu, Middle English: Sherwode, Modern English: Sherwood
Historical Usage
Sherwood gained popularity as a surname and place name in England during the medieval period, often associated with the Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, famously linked to the legend of Robin Hood.
Variants & Derivatives
Sher, Wood, Sherwod
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Sherwood is seen as a traditional name, often associated with nature and folklore, particularly due to its connections with Robin Hood and the romanticized idea of the English countryside.
Famous People
Sherwood Anderson, an American writer known for his works in the early 20th century., Sherwood Schwartz, an American television producer and writer famous for creating 'The Brady Bunch'.
Explore More Sherwood Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sherwood"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sherwood"
"Sherwood" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 663rd of 7545 | 1,463 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 605th of 6773 | 1,776 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 841st of 7552 | 1,493 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1543rd of 10718 | 505 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3664th of 16616 | 229 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 9304th of 24088 | 98 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9453rd of 23106 | 83 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8598th of 9107 | 6 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Sherwood" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
46.96% 665th/1416 |
27.56% 380th/1379 |
50.13% 1186th/2366 |
71.80% 820th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
41.98% 649th/1546 |
22.43% 349th/1556 |
33.19% 781st/2353 |
47.45% 734th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
45.04% 1003rd/2227 |
26.91% 654th/2430 |
28.53% 814th/2853 |
41.01% 1138th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
50.82% 1770th/3483 |
36.73% 1292nd/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sherwood" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sherwood"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sherwood" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.