Is Wells a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Wells is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Wells?

It's currently ranked #351 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

Wells Unisex

Popularity: #351 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: wells /wɛlz/

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: English: spring or stream; Old English: from the spring

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Wells has its origins in Old English, derived from the word "wella," meaning "spring" or "stream." This term evolved through various forms, including the Middle English "welle," before being adopted into surnames and eventually as a given name. The transition into English usage can be traced back to the medieval period, where it was often associated with geographical locations characterized by natural springs, leading to its use as a surname for those living near such features.

Historically, the name Wells has notable milestones, particularly in England. It is linked to several places named Wells, such as the city in Somerset, which has a rich ecclesiastical history dating back to the 8th century and was home to a significant cathedral.

The name also appears in various historical documents and records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which reflects its early usage in the context of English settlements. Additionally, the name has connections to notable figures, such as the poet H.G.

Wells, who contributed to the literary landscape in the early 20th century, although his influence is more modern. Culturally, the name Wells carries connotations of life and sustenance, reflecting the importance of water sources in historical communities.

It symbolizes a connection to nature and the environment, which has been a significant aspect of many cultures throughout history. The name may also evoke a sense of stability and continuity, as springs and wells have been vital to human settlement and survival.

While diminutive forms are less common, the surname Wells has been used in various contexts, reinforcing its historical significance and cultural resonance.

Famous people named Wells

In this section, you will find notable people named Wells. 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 Wells who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Wells 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.

Wells Adams is a television personality best known for The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and his podcast with Brandi Cyrus.

Sibling suggestions

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

Wade Weston Wyatt Walker Winston Warren

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Wells. 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.

Wesley Wendell Wiley Walter Waylon Winston Warren

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Wells was first seen in the United States in 1881.

Wells has ranked as high as #637 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Texas, Utah, California, North Carolina, and Georgia.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Wells 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 Wells was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Wells (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.

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	75	9%
CA	60	8%
UT	44	6%
GA	44	6%
NC	42	5%
MN	34	4%
MI	31	4%
IL	31	4%
TN	30	4%
OH	28	4%
SC	28	4%
FL	24	3%
VA	22	3%
PA	22	3%
IA	21	3%

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 Wells.

Year	Births
2024	865
2023	696
2022	659
2021	621
2020	521
2019	432
2018	327
2017	233
2016	123
2015	89
2014	88
2013	60
2012	51
2011	37
2010	32
2009	19
2008	17
2007	17
2006	17
2005	22
2004	22
2003	18
2002	10
2001	9
2000	15
1999	10
1998	14
1997	11
1996	6
1995	9
1994	9
1993	10
1992	11
1991	14
1990	9
1989	7
1988	8
1987	7
1986	11
1985	9
1984	11
1983	7
1981	6
1980	5
1979	10
1978	8
1977	6
1976	12
1975	6
1974	9
1973	13
1971	10
1970	13
1969	8
1968	12
1967	7
1966	5
1964	5
1963	7
1962	7
1961	7
1960	10
1959	6
1958	7
1957	7
1956	6
1955	12
1954	15
1953	7
1952	7
1951	10
1950	13
1949	8
1948	15
1947	11
1946	14
1945	12
1944	7
1943	14
1942	10
1941	10
1940	9
1939	12
1938	15
1937	11
1935	11
1934	15
1933	9
1932	13
1931	16
1930	17
1929	8
1928	16
1927	21
1926	15
1925	14
1924	22
1923	15
1922	27
1921	37
1920	18
1919	26
1918	17
1917	19
1916	21
1915	23
1914	20
1913	12
1912	20
1911	8
1910	6
1900	6
1895	5
1886	6
1884	5
1881	5