Wade
From Old English wæd (“a ford”).
Every Wade since 1880 — 76,666 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Wade
Wade is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #344 in 2025 with 948 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 76,666 American babies have been named Wade. Its peak came in 1970, when 1,430 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wade stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Wade year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 948 | #344 |
| 2024 | — | — | 1,010 | #341 |
| 2023 | — | — | 977 | #341 |
| 2022 | — | — | 953 | #344 |
| 2021 | 5 | #17,524 | 1,018 | #326 |
| 2020 | — | — | 944 | #341 |
| 2019 | — | — | 999 | #335 |
| 2018 | — | — | 917 | #361 |
| 2017 | — | — | 902 | #367 |
| 2016 | — | — | 791 | #406 |
| 2015 | — | — | 555 | #519 |
| 2014 | — | — | 509 | #544 |
| 2013 | — | — | 486 | #549 |
| 2012 | — | — | 470 | #555 |
| 2011 | — | — | 462 | #552 |
| 2010 | — | — | 415 | #599 |
| 2009 | — | — | 402 | #620 |
| 2008 | — | — | 426 | #592 |
| 2007 | — | — | 486 | #529 |
| 2006 | — | — | 454 | #555 |
| 2005 | — | — | 486 | #507 |
| 2004 | 7 | #14,112 | 463 | #519 |
| 2003 | — | — | 403 | #558 |
| 2002 | — | — | 414 | #539 |
| 2001 | — | — | 464 | #495 |
| 2000 | — | — | 496 | #474 |
| 1995 | — | — | 527 | #435 |
| 1990 | — | — | 778 | #323 |
| 1985 | 6 | #10,649 | 650 | #314 |
| 1980 | — | — | 735 | #285 |
| 1975 | 5 | #10,584 | 1,126 | #197 |
| 1970 | 7 | #7,059 | 1,423 | #189 |
| 1965 | 6 | #6,520 | 1,300 | #194 |
| 1960 | 5 | #7,302 | 1,241 | #224 |
| 1955 | — | — | 836 | #242 |
| 1950 | — | — | 529 | #297 |
| 1945 | — | — | 381 | #306 |
| 1940 | — | — | 411 | #275 |
| 1935 | — | — | 329 | #301 |
| 1930 | — | — | 298 | #319 |
| 1925 | — | — | 333 | #312 |
| 1920 | 7 | #4,383 | 367 | #295 |
| 1915 | — | — | 266 | #321 |
| 1910 | — | — | 75 | #281 |
| 1905 | — | — | 64 | #245 |
| 1900 | — | — | 56 | #276 |
| 1895 | — | — | 39 | #288 |
| 1890 | — | — | 51 | #235 |
| 1885 | — | — | 54 | #225 |
| 1880 | — | — | 56 | #215 |
Famous people named Wade
- Wade Williams Actor · b. 1961
- Wade Hampton III Politician · 1818–1902
- Wade Barrett Wrestler · b. 1980
- Wade Robson Dancer · b. 1982
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wade mean?
From Old English wæd (“a ford”).
How popular is the name Wade in 2025?
Wade ranked #344 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 948 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Wade?
76,666 babies have been named Wade in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Wade most popular?
Wade peaked in 1970, when 1,430 newborns received the name.
Is Wade a boy or girl name?
Wade is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Wade rising or falling?
Wade is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Wade?
Well-known people named Wade include Wade Williams (actor), Wade Hampton III (politician), Wade Barrett (wrestler).