Weaver
A worker who weaves cloth, fabric, or baskets.
Name Census estimates that about 97 living Americans carry the first name Weaver. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Weaver today is around 70 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Weaver births was 1914 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Weaver. 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 Weaver is about 70 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Weavers were born before 1966.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Weaver. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
97
~ 1 in 3,533,550 Americans
Peak year
1914
20 babies that year
Average age
70
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,217
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Weaver: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Weaver from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 139 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Weaver 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 Weaver during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Weavers live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas recorded the most babies named Weaver, while Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 14 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Weaver
The name Weaver has its origins in the Old English word "webba," which means "one who weaves." It is an occupational name that dates back to the Middle Ages, when weaving was a common trade and an essential part of daily life. The name likely emerged as a way to identify individuals who worked as weavers, crafting textiles such as wool, linen, and silk.
In the early days, the name was often spelled differently, including variations like "Webber" and "Webbare." These variations reflect the regional dialects and writing conventions of the time. As the name spread across different regions, it adapted to local pronunciations and spellings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Weaver can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions several individuals with the name, indicating its presence in England during the Norman period.
Throughout history, the name Weaver has been associated with notable individuals from various fields. One of the most renowned figures is James B. Weaver (1833-1912), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative and ran for President as the candidate of the Populist Party in 1892. Another notable bearer of the name is John V.A. Weaver (1893-1938), an American film director and screenwriter known for his work in the silent film era.
In the realm of literature, Silas Weir Mitchell (1829-1914) was an American physician and writer who authored several works of fiction and non-fiction, including the novel "Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker." The name Weaver also has ties to the world of music, with performers like Josh Weaver (born 1985), an American singer-songwriter known for his work in the bluegrass and country genres.
Another notable figure is Ralph Weaver (1921-1998), an American sculptor and artist who was known for his large-scale public works and abstract sculptures. His works can be found in various museums and public spaces across the United States.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Weaver throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and cultures. While the name's origins are rooted in the occupation of weaving, it has transcended its occupational beginnings and become a part of diverse cultural and historical narratives.
People
Weaver + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Weaver 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
Weaver: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Weaver?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 97 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Weaver 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 3,533,550 US residents.
Is Weaver a common name?
We classify Weaver as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 525 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Weaver most popular?
The single biggest year for Weaver was 1914, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Weaver is about 70 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Weaver a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Weaver 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.
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.