Swade
A name of uncertain origin, possibly Arabic or English.
Name Census estimates that about 166 living Americans carry the first name Swade. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Swade today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Swade births was 2024 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Swade. 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.
People living today
166
~ 1 in 2,064,785 Americans
Peak year
2024
22 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,672
Tracked since 1993
Popularity
Swade: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Swade from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 77 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Swade 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 Swade during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Swades live
Origin
Meaning and history of Swade
The name Swade is believed to have originated in the Germanic language family, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "svađ," which translates to "swath" or "a strip of cut grass." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with occupations related to farming or land management.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Swade can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Swada," likely referring to an individual residing in the county of Yorkshire at that time.
During the Middle Ages, the name Swade gained some prominence in various European regions. In the 14th century, a nobleman named Swade von Wittelsbach was a prominent figure in the Holy Roman Empire, serving as a military commander and advisor to several emperors. His legacy is documented in various historical chronicles from that period.
In the 16th century, a Dutch explorer named Swade van Heemskerck led several expeditions to the Arctic regions, contributing to the advancement of cartography and navigation. His voyages were documented in his journals, which have become valuable historical sources.
Another notable figure bearing the name Swade was an 18th-century English poet and playwright, Swade Worthington. Although not widely recognized during his lifetime, Worthington's works have been rediscovered and studied by literary scholars in recent years, providing insights into the cultural and literary landscape of that era.
In the 19th century, Swade Macpherson was a Scottish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and railway technology. His innovative designs and patents were instrumental in the industrial revolution and played a role in shaping modern transportation systems.
While the name Swade has declined in popularity in recent times, it continues to hold a unique place in history, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped it over the centuries.
People
Swade + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Swade as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Swade: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Swade?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 166 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Swade 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 2,064,785 US residents.
Is Swade a common name?
We classify Swade as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 168 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Swade most popular?
The single biggest year for Swade was 2024, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Swade is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Swade a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Swade 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.
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.