Wade Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Wade is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Wade?
Wade is spelled W-A-D-E. The name has 4 letters.
Wade at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Wade derives from an Old English word meaning “to go”, particularly referring to wading through water.
- Origin
- Wade may derive from an Old English term related to the act of wading or crossing water.
- Pronunciation
- WAYD · 1 syllable
Wade Popularity in 2025
Rank#344
Recorded Births948
- Boys usage fell 3 places to #344 and recorded 62 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Wade Mean?
Wade derives from an Old English word meaning “to go”, particularly referring to wading through water.
Origin: Wade may derive from an Old English term related to the act of wading or crossing water.
How Do You Pronounce Wade?
PronunciationWAYD
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Wade?
- History
- The name Wade has historical usage as both a surname and a given name in English-speaking regions.
Wade Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 948 | #344 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,010 | #341 |
| 2023 | Boys | 977 | #341 |
| 2022 | Boys | 953 | #344 |
| 2021 | Girls | 5 | #15,251 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,018 | #326 |
| 2020 | Boys | 944 | #340 |
| 2019 | Boys | 999 | #335 |
| 2018 | Boys | 917 | #361 |
| 2017 | Boys | 902 | #367 |
| 2016 | Boys | 791 | #406 |
| 2015 | Boys | 555 | #519 |
| 2014 | Boys | 509 | #543 |
| 2013 | Boys | 486 | #546 |
| 2012 | Boys | 470 | #554 |
| 2011 | Boys | 462 | #551 |
| 2010 | Boys | 415 | #599 |
| 2009 | Boys | 402 | #620 |
| 2008 | Boys | 426 | #592 |
| 2007 | Boys | 486 | #529 |
| 2006 | Boys | 454 | #553 |
| 2005 | Boys | 486 | #506 |
| 2004 | Girls | 7 | #12,761 |
| 2004 | Boys | 463 | #519 |
When Was Wade Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1970 · Boys
1,423 recorded births
National rank #189
1963 · Boys
1,407 recorded births
National rank #206
1964 · Boys
1,375 recorded births
National rank #202
1969 · Boys
1,364 recorded births
National rank #193
Where Wade Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| AK | #85 | 9 |
| MT | #96 | 12 |
| ID | #113 | 22 |
| UT | #178 | 31 |
| WV | #183 | 10 |
| SD | #192 | 7 |
| NC | #198 | 63 |
| WI | #200 | 31 |