Waring
A masculine name of Anglo-Saxon origin possibly meaning "guard" or "watchman".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Waring. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Waring today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Waring births was 1913 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Waring. 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 Waring is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Warings were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Waring. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1913
6 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1951 SSA rank
#4,232
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Waring: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Waring from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 15 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Waring remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waring 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 Waring 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 Waring
The name Waring has its origins in the Old English language, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "wær," which means "wary" or "cautious." The name was likely given to individuals who were considered vigilant or watchful, reflecting the values and virtues prized by the Anglo-Saxon culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Waring can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book lists several individuals with the name Waring, indicating its usage during the Anglo-Norman period in England.
In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Waring de Lira gained recognition as a renowned scholar and theologian. He was born in Lyre, Normandy, and authored several works on biblical exegesis and theology, including the influential "Glossa Ordinaria" (The Ordinary Gloss), which was widely used as a commentary on the Bible throughout the Middle Ages.
During the 13th century, Sir Waring de Stafford, a knight and landowner from Staffordshire, England, played a significant role in the baronial revolt against King John in 1215. He was one of the rebel barons who supported the cause that ultimately led to the signing of the Magna Carta, a seminal document that established principles of liberty and limited the power of the monarch.
In the late 15th century, Waring Laton, a merchant and alderman from London, made a notable contribution to the city's infrastructure by funding the construction of a public conduit that brought fresh water to the inhabitants of the city. This public work, known as the "Laton Conduit," was a testament to his civic-mindedness and commitment to the well-being of the community.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Waring was Sir John Waring, an English military officer who served during the Tudor period in the 16th century. He fought in the Wars of the Roses and was knighted for his bravery and loyalty to King Henry VII. Sir John Waring played a crucial role in suppressing the Cornish Rebellion of 1497, helping to secure the throne for the newly established Tudor dynasty.
These examples illustrate the historical significance and longevity of the name Waring, which has been used across various periods and contexts, reflecting the values and achievements of individuals who bore this name throughout the centuries.
People
Waring + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Waring 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
Waring: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Waring?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Waring 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 Waring a common name?
We classify Waring 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, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Waring most popular?
The single biggest year for Waring was 1913, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Waring is about 81 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 Waring in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Waring a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Waring 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 Waring still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Waring 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 Waring 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 share the name Waring?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.