Wells Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Wells is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Wells?
Wells is spelled W-E-L-L-S. The name has 5 letters.
Wells at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Wells is derived from the Old English word for springs or wells of water.
- Origin
- Wells is associated with geographic features involving natural springs or water sources, deriving from Old English.
- Pronunciation
- WELZ · 1 syllable
Wells Popularity in 2025
Rank#7,491
Recorded Births14
Rank#345
Recorded Births944
- Girls usage rose 952 places to #7,491 and recorded 2 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 32 places to #345 and recorded 75 more 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 Wells Mean?
Wells is derived from the Old English word for springs or wells of water.
Origin: Wells is associated with geographic features involving natural springs or water sources, deriving from Old English.
How Do You Pronounce Wells?
PronunciationWELZ
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Wells?
- History
- Wells has been used historically in English-speaking regions as a locational surname referring to someone who lived near a well or spring.
Wells Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 14 | #7,491 |
| 2025 | Boys | 944 | #345 |
| 2024 | Girls | 12 | #8,443 |
| 2024 | Boys | 869 | #377 |
| 2023 | Girls | 18 | #6,409 |
| 2023 | Boys | 696 | #447 |
| 2022 | Girls | 15 | #7,281 |
| 2022 | Boys | 659 | #467 |
| 2021 | Girls | 17 | #6,691 |
| 2021 | Boys | 621 | #482 |
| 2020 | Girls | 10 | #9,546 |
| 2020 | Boys | 521 | #545 |
| 2019 | Girls | 18 | #6,414 |
| 2019 | Boys | 432 | #626 |
| 2018 | Girls | 13 | #8,146 |
| 2018 | Boys | 327 | #730 |
| 2017 | Girls | 10 | #9,943 |
| 2017 | Boys | 233 | #916 |
| 2016 | Girls | 12 | #8,875 |
| 2016 | Boys | 124 | #1,413 |
| 2015 | Girls | 7 | #13,006 |
| 2015 | Boys | 89 | #1,729 |
| 2014 | Girls | 7 | #13,069 |
| 2014 | Boys | 88 | #1,714 |
When Was Wells 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.
2025 · Boys
944 recorded births
National rank #345
2024 · Boys
869 recorded births
National rank #377
2023 · Boys
696 recorded births
National rank #447
2022 · Boys
659 recorded births
National rank #467
Where Wells 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ND | #93 | 12 |
| UT | #101 | 51 |
| NH | #121 | 12 |
| SD | #145 | 9 |
| KS | #151 | 25 |
| MT | #159 | 8 |
| DC | #168 | 5 |
| ME | #172 | 7 |