Wadsworth
A masculine name of English origin representing a woad-seller's dwelling.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Wadsworth. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Wadsworth today is around 93 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wadsworth births was 1921 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Wadsworth. 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 Wadsworth is about 93 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Wadsworths were born before 1943.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Wadsworth. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1921
9 babies that year
Average age
93
years old
1944 SSA rank
#3,882
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Wadsworth: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Wadsworth from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 37 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Wadsworth 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 Wadsworth 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 Wadsworth
The name Wadsworth is an English surname-derived given name, originating from the Old English words "wad" meaning "ford" and "worth" meaning "enclosure" or "farm." Together, the name suggests a homestead or farm near a ford or shallow river crossing. This name likely emerged in the medieval period, reflecting the rural landscape and agricultural traditions of England at the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wadsworth dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a place name in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname before being adopted as a given name.
While not directly referenced in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the name Wadsworth carries a connection to the natural environment and the everyday lives of people in medieval England. Its etymology reflects the importance of fords and river crossings in facilitating travel and trade, as well as the prominence of farming and rural settlements.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Wadsworth as their first name. One of the earliest examples is Wadsworth Longfellow (1765-1822), an American lawyer and the grandfather of the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Another prominent figure was Wadsworth Russell (1858-1938), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Russell Sage Foundation.
In the realm of literature, Wadsworth Camp (1879-1936) was an American poet and educator, known for his works celebrating nature and rural life. Additionally, Wadsworth Jarrell (1929-1980) was a renowned American poet and critic, recognized for his contributions to 20th-century American poetry.
Moving into the field of science, Wadsworth Caswell (1804-1892) was an American mathematician and educator, known for his work in developing mathematical textbooks and promoting educational reform.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the name Wadsworth throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and contexts.
People
Wadsworth + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Wadsworth 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
Wadsworth: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Wadsworth?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wadsworth 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 Wadsworth a common name?
We classify Wadsworth 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, 76 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Wadsworth most popular?
The single biggest year for Wadsworth was 1921, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wadsworth is about 93 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 Wadsworth in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Wadsworth a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Wadsworth 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 Wadsworth still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Wadsworth 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 Wadsworth 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 are named Wadsworth?
Find out how many Americans are named Wadsworth on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.