Gaddis
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew language, signifying "fortunate one".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Gaddis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gaddis today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gaddis births was 1919 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gaddis. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Gaddis is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gaddis' were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gaddis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1919
8 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1948 SSA rank
#3,864
Tracked since 1916
Popularity
Gaddis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gaddis from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 19 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gaddis by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gaddis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gaddis' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Gaddis
The name Gaddis is of uncertain origin, with various theories proposed by scholars and researchers. One possibility suggests it may have roots in the ancient Greek language, derived from the word "gaddis," which means "a type of fish" or "a young goat." This could indicate a connection to fishing or pastoral communities in the Mediterranean region.
Another theory traces the name back to the Germanic languages, potentially stemming from the Old English word "gad," meaning "a pointed stick or goad." This could imply a association with agricultural tools or practices, as goads were commonly used to herd livestock.
In terms of historical references, the earliest known record of the name Gaddis comes from medieval England, where it appears in various legal documents and records from the 13th and 14th centuries. However, these early instances are often listed as surnames rather than given names.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the given name Gaddis was Gaddis Smythe, an English merchant and explorer who lived in the late 15th century. He is known for his travels to the East Indies and his accounts of the spice trade during that era.
Another notable figure was Gaddis Browning (1788-1859), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee. He was a prominent figure in the early history of the state and played a role in its admission to the Union.
In the literary world, Gaddis Rhodes (1919-2002) was an acclaimed American novelist and short story writer. His works, including the novels "The Recognitions" and "JR," explored themes of capitalism, modern society, and the human condition.
Gaddis Vaux (1844-1924) was an American botanist and educator, known for his contributions to the study of plant life in the eastern United States. He served as a professor at various institutions and authored several influential works on botany.
Finally, Gaddis Smith (1922-2010) was a renowned American historian and author, specializing in the study of American foreign relations and diplomacy. He taught at various prestigious universities and wrote several influential books on topics such as the Cold War and U.S. foreign policy.
While not an exhaustive list, these examples provide insight into the historical use of the given name Gaddis and its association with individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields throughout the centuries.
People
Gaddis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gaddis as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gaddis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gaddis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gaddis going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Gaddis a common name?
We classify Gaddis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 39 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gaddis most popular?
The single biggest year for Gaddis was 1919, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gaddis is about 83 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gaddis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gaddis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gaddis in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Gaddis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gaddis in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gaddis can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Gaddis as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.