Wade
How to say it: WAYD · /ˈweɪd/
From an Old English surname meaning 'to go'; also from a figure in English legend and the idea of wading through water.
Wade was the 348th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 948 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are up about 70% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #346 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #348 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 948 |
| Share of births | 1 in 3,497 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | +70% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #346 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Steady presence has kept Wade in use across the decades, peaking in the 1960s. Close to that best today, it looks set to edge up.
What goes with it
Short and crisp, Wade hits with quiet strength. Clay carries a similar spare energy.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Wade is about 1 in 146.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Wade
- Wade Williams (born 1961)American actor
- Wade Barrett (born 1980)British professional wrestler
- Wade Robson (born 1982)Australian choreographer, creative director, and songwriter
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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