Scattering from many fluid‐loaded elastic solid objects yields echo responses that are characteristic of rigid scatterers, with the exception of narrow resonance regions. These resonances are related to Rayleigh‐type surface disturbances and thus are determined by the material properties of the scatterer. The purpose of this study is to predict resonances for several representative elastic materials to ascertain material properties that can be associated with resonance phenomena. This study was carried out using theT‐matrix technique to determine backscattered form functions for spheroids composed of brass, aluminum, nickel, steel, molybdenum, and tungsten carbide. Either low density or low shear velocities have been determined to yield results that do not correspond to simple rigid backgrounds, though for all cases shear velocity alone practically determines the resonance location. A Rayleigh surface standing wave argument was found to be useful in deriving simple expressions that determine resonance locations as a function of shear velocity alone. These expressions compare well with numerical calculations.