Waverly Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WAY-ver-lee //ˈweɪ.vər.li//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: meadow by the river; Old English: from the quaking aspen tree
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Waverly has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "waver" meaning to wave or move, and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow. This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to "meadow by the waves" or "quaking meadow," reflecting a landscape characterized by both water and open land.
The name entered the English lexicon through place names, particularly in England, where various locations bear the name Waverley, such as Waverley Abbey in Surrey, founded in the 12th century, which is one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in England. Historically, the name gained further prominence in the 19th century through literature, notably with Sir Walter Scott's novel "Waverley," published in 1814.
This work is often credited with establishing the historical novel genre and brought the name into broader cultural awareness. The character Edward Waverley, a young Englishman, becomes embroiled in the Jacobite risings, and the novel's exploration of Scottish history and identity resonated with readers, contributing to the name's association with themes of adventure and national heritage.
Culturally, Waverly has been embraced in various contexts, often symbolizing a connection to nature and pastoral beauty, evoking imagery of serene landscapes. The name has also been used in various artistic and literary works, reinforcing its association with romantic and idyllic settings.
In addition to its full form, Waverly has seen diminutive forms such as Wavy, which carry a playful connotation. Overall, the name encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, reflecting both its historical roots and its literary connections.
Famous people named Waverly
In this section, you will find notable people named Waverly. 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 Waverly who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Waverly 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.
Waverly Fitzgerald is an author best known for her books on urban fantasy and her work with the Waverly Writers' Workshop.
Waverly Place is a fictional character from the television series Wizards of Waverly Place, known for her magical adventures and family dynamics.
Fictional characters named Waverly
The following list of fictional characters named Waverly 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.
Waverly Earp is a fictional character from the TV series Wynonna Earp. She is the younger sister of Wynonna Earp and plays a crucial role in the fight against supernatural threats in their hometown.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Waverly, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Waverly. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Waverly was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Waverly has ranked as high as #1013 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Virginia, New York, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Waverly has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Waverly 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 Waverly was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Waverly (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NC | 20 | |
| CA | 20 | |
| FL | 15 | |
| VA | 15 | |
| IN | 13 | |
| MO | 13 | |
| TX | 13 | |
| PA | 12 | |
| TN | 12 | |
| IL | 10 | |
| OK | 10 | |
| KY | 10 | |
| NY | 9 | |
| MN | 9 | |
| OH | 8 |
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 Waverly.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 289 |
| 2023 | 305 |
| 2022 | 384 |
| 2021 | 381 |
| 2020 | 371 |
| 2019 | 337 |
| 2018 | 269 |
| 2017 | 255 |
| 2016 | 225 |
| 2015 | 121 |
| 2014 | 133 |
| 2013 | 109 |
| 2012 | 76 |
| 2011 | 69 |
| 2010 | 56 |
| 2009 | 65 |
| 2008 | 51 |
| 2007 | 40 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2004 | 27 |
| 2003 | 38 |
| 2002 | 30 |
| 2001 | 33 |
| 2000 | 28 |
| 1999 | 25 |
| 1998 | 27 |
| 1997 | 39 |
| 1996 | 35 |
| 1995 | 52 |
| 1994 | 50 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1992 | 5 |
| 1990 | 6 |
| 1989 | 6 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1983 | 6 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1975 | 7 |
| 1974 | 5 |
| 1973 | 5 |
| 1971 | 6 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1968 | 7 |
| 1967 | 6 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1963 | 9 |
| 1962 | 13 |
| 1960 | 7 |
| 1959 | 6 |
| 1958 | 5 |
| 1957 | 5 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1954 | 7 |
| 1953 | 14 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1951 | 5 |
| 1950 | 7 |
| 1949 | 7 |
| 1948 | 9 |
| 1947 | 5 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1943 | 6 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1939 | 7 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1936 | 6 |
| 1934 | 7 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1926 | 9 |
| 1925 | 6 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1919 | 7 |
| 1914 | 5 |