Ware
A masculine name of Old English origin meaning "dweller by a dam".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Ware. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ware today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ware births was 1920 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ware. 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 Ware. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
7 babies that year
Average age
-
1920 SSA rank
#3,805
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Ware: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ware 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 Ware during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ware
The name Ware is an English given name with Germanic origins, derived from the Old English word "waer" or "wær," meaning "aware" or "cautious." It dates back to the early medieval period and was commonly used among the Anglo-Saxon populations of England.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Ware can be traced back to the 9th century, where it appeared in various Anglo-Saxon chronicles and records. One notable example is Ware the Seafarer, a legendary figure from Anglo-Saxon folklore who was said to have sailed the seas and explored distant lands.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ware was occasionally used in religious contexts, particularly among monks and clergymen. It was seen as a virtuous name, reflecting the qualities of vigilance and prudence.
In the 11th century, a prominent figure named Ware the Wise was recorded as a scholar and advisor to King Edward the Confessor. Ware was known for his deep knowledge and wise counsel, which earned him great respect among the nobility.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Ware was Sir Ware de Montefort, a 13th-century knight who fought alongside King Henry III during the Second Barons' War. He was renowned for his bravery and skill on the battlefield.
During the Renaissance period, the name Ware experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the intellectual and artistic circles of Europe. One notable figure from this time was Ware Galilei, an Italian philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of physics and astronomy.
In the 18th century, a British explorer named Ware Cook embarked on a series of voyages to the Pacific Ocean, charting new territories and documenting the cultures and customs of the indigenous peoples he encountered. His detailed accounts and maps played a crucial role in expanding the geographical knowledge of the time.
Throughout history, the name Ware has been associated with qualities such as vigilance, wisdom, and bravery. While its usage has waxed and waned over the centuries, it remains a name with a rich heritage, reflecting the values and traditions of its Anglo-Saxon origins.
People
Ware + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ware 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
Ware: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ware?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ware 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 - US residents.
Is Ware a common name?
We classify Ware as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ware most popular?
The single biggest year for Ware was 1920, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ware is about 0 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 Ware in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ware a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ware 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 Ware still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ware 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 Ware 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 Ware?
Find out how many people have the name Ware on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.