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Woody

Boy name · 68 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Woody: 68 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 7 births in 2018.

Woody began as a nickname, typically shortened from Woodrow or simply from the Old English *wudu* meaning “wood” – a name rooted in the natural landscape. The most famous bearer is folk singer Woody Guthrie, whose songs like “This Land Is Your Land” shaped American music, while filmmaker Woody Allen brought the name to Hollywood. Though less common in Scotland, the name carries a distinctly American warmth, partly thanks to the beloved cowboy doll Woody from the *Toy Story* films. As a given name, it has appeared occasionally on Scottish birth registers since the 1990s, often chosen for its friendly, down‑to‑earth feel. Variants include the surname Wood, and the name shares its woody root with countless places named Wood, Woods, or Woodside across the English‑speaking world.