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Woodrow Wilson's Real Name: Thomas Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson's full birth name was Thomas Woodrow Wilson.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States (1913–1921), was born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia, as Thomas Woodrow Wilson. Woodrow was his mother's maiden name. As a child he was called "Tommy."
As a young man, shortly after finishing college at Princeton, he dropped his first name and began using his middle name, Woodrow, which he felt sounded more distinguished.
Wilson was president of Princeton University and governor of New Jersey before winning the White House. He led the United States through World War I and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for his work founding the League of Nations. Historians also note that his administration expanded racial segregation in the federal workforce.
FAQ
Why did Woodrow Wilson drop the name Thomas?
As a young man he chose to go by his middle name, Woodrow, his mother's maiden name.
Did Woodrow Wilson win a Nobel Prize?
Yes, the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize.