Gender Masculine
Pronounced Pron. EHL-mo(Italian, English)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Originally a short form of names ending with the Old German element helm meaning "helmet, protection", such as Guglielmo or Anselmo. It is also a derivative of Erasmus, via the old Italian short form Ermo. Saint Elmo, also known as Saint Erasmus, was a 4th-century martyr who is the patron of sailors. Saint Elmo's fire is said to be a sign of his protection.

In the English-speaking world this name is now associated with a red muppet character from the children's television program Sesame Street.

Related Names

Feminine FormAnselma(Italian)
Other Languages & CulturesErasmos(Ancient Greek) Gwilherm(Breton) Guillem, Guim(Catalan) Vilim, Vilko(Croatian) Vilém(Czech) Rasmus, Vilhelm, Villum(Danish) Wilhelmus, Willem, Jelle, Pim, Wil, Willy, Wim(Dutch) Vilhelmo, Vilĉjo(Esperanto) Viliame(Fijian) Anselme, Guillaume(French) Guillerme(Galician) Anselm, Wilhelm, Willi, Willy(German) Ansehelm, Anselm, Wilhelm, Willehelm(Germanic) Vilmos, Vili(Hungarian) Vilhjálmur(Icelandic) Uilliam, Liam, Uilleag, Ulick(Irish) Erasmus(Late Greek) Vilhelms, Vilis(Latvian) Wöllem, Wullem, Wum(Limburgish) Vilhelmas(Lithuanian) Illiam(Manx) Wiremu(Maori) Wilkin, Wilky, Wilmot(Medieval English) Ermo(Medieval Italian) Rasmus, Vilhelm(Norwegian) Wiljahelmaz(Old Germanic) Wilhelm(Polish) Anselmo, Erasmo, Guilherme, Gui(Portuguese) Uilleam(Scottish Gaelic) Viliam(Slovak) Erazem, Viljem, Vili, Vilko(Slovene) Anselmo, Erasmo, Guillermo(Spanish) Rasmus, Vilhelm, Ville(Swedish) Viliami(Tongan) Gwilym, Gwil, Gwilim, Gwillym(Welsh) Anshel(Yiddish)
User SubmissionElmo

Popularity

People think this name is

youthful   informal   wholesome   strange   simple   comedic  

Name Days

Austria: April 14
Estonia: March 4
Finland: January 3

Categories

Entry updated December 7, 2022