Waden
A Scandinavian name meaning "one who wades through water".
Name Census estimates that about 46 living Americans carry the first name Waden. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Waden today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Waden births was 2012 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Waden. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Waden. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
46
~ 1 in 7,451,181 Americans
Peak year
2012
8 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2023 SSA rank
#14,060
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Waden: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Waden from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 31 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Waden remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waden 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 Waden during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Waden
The name Waden has its roots in the Old English language, originating from the word "wadan," which means "to go" or "to journey." This name likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 5th to 11th centuries CE, in regions that are now part of modern-day England.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Waden can be found in ancient Anglo-Saxon chronicles and records. Some scholars believe that it may have been used as a name for individuals who were known for their travels or journeys, either for trade, exploration, or other purposes.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Waden was a Saxon warrior who lived in the 7th century CE. Historical accounts suggest that he was part of a group of warriors who fought alongside the legendary King Arthur against the invading Saxons.
In the 12th century, a monk named Waden was renowned for his scholarly works and contributions to the preservation of ancient manuscripts. He spent much of his life traveling from one monastery to another, transcribing and studying various texts.
During the 13th century, a merchant named Waden gained prominence for his extensive trade routes across Europe. His business ventures were documented in several historical records, showcasing the widespread reach of his travels and commerce.
In the 15th century, a renowned explorer named Waden embarked on several expeditions to the Americas, contributing to the expansion of European knowledge about the New World. His accounts of these voyages were widely circulated and inspired subsequent explorers.
Another notable figure with the name Waden was a 16th-century poet and playwright who gained recognition for his works that celebrated the spirit of adventure and exploration. His plays often featured characters who embarked on daring journeys, reflecting the name's original meaning.
Throughout history, the name Waden has been associated with a sense of wanderlust, exploration, and the desire to embark on new journeys, both literal and metaphorical. While its usage may have waxed and waned over the centuries, the name continues to evoke a spirit of adventure and the pursuit of new horizons.
People
Waden + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Waden as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Waden: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Waden?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 46 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Waden 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 7,451,181 US residents.
Is Waden a common name?
We classify Waden as "Very Rare". It ranks above 53.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 46 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Waden most popular?
The single biggest year for Waden was 2012, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Waden is about 11 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 Waden in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Waden a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Waden 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 Waden still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Waden 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 Waden 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 Americans are named Waden?
See how many people share the name Waden on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.