Of the forest or woods
Originally an English surname for someone who lived in or worked in a forest. It is derived from the Middle English 'wode', which refers to a collection of trees. As a first name, it represents a modern shift toward using nature-inspired surnames for a rugged, outdoorsy feel.
Less common today
Woods isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #1,471 in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990βpresent (SSA data).
English sea captain and privateer