Waide
A masculine name of Old English origin meaning "journey" or "traveler".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Waide. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Waide today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Waide births was 1929 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Waide. 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 Waide. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1929
6 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
1976 SSA rank
#6,477
Tracked since 1929
Popularity
Waide: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Waide from the 1920s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 6 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
Waide 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 Waide 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 Waide
The given name Waide is believed to have originated from the Old English word "wæd," which means "wanderer" or "wayfarer." This name has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture and can be traced back to the 5th century AD, when the Anglo-Saxons began settling in what is now known as England.
The name Waide was particularly popular among the Germanic tribes that inhabited the British Isles during the Middle Ages. It was often given to individuals who traveled extensively or lived a nomadic lifestyle. The earliest recorded instance of this name dates back to the 8th century, when a man named Waide was mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an annual record of important events in England.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Waide. One of the earliest recorded was Waide the Wanderer, a legendary figure from the 9th century who was said to have traveled across Europe, sharing stories and spreading knowledge. Another significant figure was Waide of Arundel, a 12th-century monk and scholar renowned for his writings on theology and philosophy.
In the 13th century, Waide de Lisle was a prominent knight who fought in the Crusades and was known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. A century later, Waide Longfellow (1378-1432) was an English poet whose works explored themes of nature and spirituality.
During the Renaissance period, Waide Montague (1501-1567) was a renowned architect and artist who left a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Italy. His most famous work is the Palazzo Montague in Florence, which is still admired for its intricate design and stunning frescoes.
While the name Waide has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture, it has since been adopted by various other cultures and communities around the world. However, its original meaning and historical significance remain closely tied to the wandering spirit and nomadic lifestyle of the early Anglo-Saxons.
People
Waide + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Waide 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
Waide: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Waide?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Waide 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Waide a common name?
We classify Waide as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Waide most popular?
The single biggest year for Waide was 1929, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Waide is about 54 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 Waide in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Waide a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Waide 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 Waide still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Waide 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 Waide 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 Waide?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.