Wade Boy

Popularity: #326 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WAYD //weɪd//

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: English: river crossing; Old English: a ford

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Wade has its origins in Old English, derived from the word "wadan," which means "to go" or "to advance." This term is related to the Proto-Germanic root *wadan, which also conveys the idea of movement or passage. The name is believed to have originally referred to someone who lived near a ford or shallow river crossing, as the Old English word "wade" specifically denotes the act of walking through water.

The name entered the English lexicon during the early medieval period, gaining traction as a given name in the centuries that followed. Historically, the name Wade appears in various forms throughout English literature and records.

One notable figure is Wade, a legendary hero in Anglo-Saxon lore, who is mentioned in early medieval texts. The name also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is associated with locations in England, further solidifying its geographical and cultural significance.

Additionally, the name has been borne by several saints and notable figures throughout history, contributing to its recognition and use in various contexts. Culturally, the name Wade has been associated with strength and resilience, reflecting its etymological roots in movement and progression.

This symbolism has allowed the name to endure through the centuries, often evoking images of someone who is steadfast and determined. The diminutive form "Waddy" has also been used historically, although less frequently.

Overall, Wade encapsulates a rich linguistic and cultural heritage, embodying themes of journey and perseverance that resonate across different eras.

Famous people named Wade

In this section, you will find notable people named Wade. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Wade who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Wade who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Wade Boggs is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Wade Wilson is a former professional American football player best known for his time with the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.

Wade Phillips is a former American football coach best known for his work with the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys.

Fictional characters named Wade

The following list of fictional characters named Wade is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Wade Wilson is a fictional character from the comic book series Deadpool. He is a mercenary with accelerated healing powers and a penchant for breaking the fourth wall.

Wade Watts is a fictional character from the novel Ready Player One. He is a teenager who embarks on a quest within a virtual reality universe to find an Easter egg left by its creator.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wade, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

BlakeChaseGrantReedColeTroy

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Wade. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

JadeGageZaneTateCadeShaneBlaineDane

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Wade was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Wade has ranked as high as #409 nationally, which occurred in 1970, and has been most popular in Texas, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Wade has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Wade is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Wade was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Wade.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 948 948 0
2024 1,010 1,010 0
2023 977 977 0
2022 953 953 0
2021 1,023 1,018 5
2020 944 944 0
2019 999 999 0
2018 917 917 0
2017 902 902 0
2016 791 791 0
2015 555 555 0
2014 509 509 0
2013 486 486 0
2012 470 470 0
2011 462 462 0
2010 415 415 0
2009 402 402 0
2008 426 426 0
2007 486 486 0
2006 454 454 0
2005 486 486 0
2004 470 463 7
2003 403 403 0
2002 414 414 0
2001 464 464 0
2000 496 496 0
1999 494 494 0
1998 507 507 0
1997 554 554 0
1996 593 593 0
1995 527 527 0
1994 553 553 0
1993 592 592 0
1992 686 686 0
1991 703 703 0
1990 778 778 0
1989 776 776 0
1988 777 777 0
1987 731 731 0
1986 733 727 6
1985 656 650 6
1984 666 666 0
1983 607 601 6
1982 663 663 0
1981 652 647 5
1980 735 735 0
1979 769 764 5
1978 783 776 7
1977 895 889 6
1976 1,014 1,009 5
1975 1,131 1,126 5
1974 1,124 1,119 5
1973 1,115 1,110 5
1972 1,059 1,053 6
1971 1,162 1,156 6
1970 1,430 1,423 7
1969 1,364 1,364 0
1968 1,125 1,125 0
1967 1,244 1,244 0
1966 1,364 1,359 5
1965 1,306 1,300 6
1964 1,380 1,375 5
1963 1,407 1,407 0
1962 1,214 1,204 10
1961 1,247 1,247 0
1960 1,246 1,241 5
1959 1,235 1,230 5
1958 1,148 1,148 0
1957 1,141 1,141 0
1956 1,077 1,077 0
1955 836 836 0
1954 755 755 0
1953 670 664 6
1952 599 599 0
1951 552 552 0
1950 529 529 0
1949 473 473 0
1948 486 486 0
1947 490 490 0
1946 475 475 0
1945 381 381 0
1944 411 411 0
1943 400 400 0
1942 371 371 0
1941 395 395 0
1940 411 411 0
1939 346 346 0
1938 305 305 0
1937 310 310 0
1936 300 300 0
1935 329 329 0
1934 306 306 0
1933 295 295 0
1932 305 305 0
1931 300 300 0
1930 298 298 0
1929 310 310 0
1928 360 355 5
1927 377 377 0
1926 343 343 0
1925 333 333 0
1924 391 385 6
1923 343 337 6
1922 352 347 5
1921 384 384 0
1920 374 367 7
1919 333 333 0
1918 324 324 0
1917 317 317 0
1916 333 328 5
1915 266 266 0
1914 250 250 0
1913 179 179 0
1912 181 181 0
1911 78 78 0
1910 75 75 0
1909 69 69 0
1908 37 37 0
1907 69 69 0
1906 57 57 0
1905 64 64 0
1904 57 57 0
1903 46 46 0
1902 40 40 0
1901 62 62 0
1900 56 56 0
1899 62 62 0
1898 63 63 0
1897 53 53 0
1896 63 63 0
1895 39 39 0
1894 54 54 0
1893 53 53 0
1892 54 54 0
1891 38 38 0
1890 51 51 0
1889 42 42 0
1888 50 50 0
1887 39 39 0
1886 61 61 0
1885 54 54 0
1884 51 51 0
1883 54 54 0
1882 64 64 0
1881 52 52 0
1880 56 56 0

Top States for Wade (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 89
9%
CA 66
7%
FL 59
6%
OH 54
6%
NC 50
5%
PA 47
5%
MO 40
4%
NY 30
3%
VA 30
3%
GA 30
3%
IN 29
3%
WA 29
3%
MI 28
3%
IL 28
3%
TN 24
2%
KS 22
2%
UT 21
2%
KY 20
2%
MN 19
2%
OK 19
2%
ID 18
2%
LA 18
2%
SC 18
2%
MD 16
2%
NJ 16
2%
WI 15
2%
IA 14
1%
CO 14
1%
OR 13
1%
MA 13
1%
AZ 12
1%
MT 12
1%
NE 11
1%
AL 11
1%
AR 10
1%
MS 9
1%
WV 8
1%
NM 6
1%
ND 6
1%
SD 5
1%