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Very Rare

Wedson

A name derived from the Old English surname meaning "son of Weda".

Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Wedson. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Wedson today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wedson births was 2022 (5 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Wedson. 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 Wedson. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.

People living today

5

~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans

Peak year

2022

5 babies that year

Average age

4

years old

2022 SSA rank

#14,205

Tracked since 2022

Popularity

Wedson: popularity over time

Babies born per year

01345

Decades

Wedson 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 Wedson during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
2020s505

Origin

Meaning and history of Wedson

The name Wedson is an uncommon and intriguing one, with its origins shrouded in mystery. Linguists have traced its roots back to ancient Germanic languages, where it may have been derived from a combination of the words "wed" (meaning pledge or promise) and "son" (which denotes a male offspring). This suggests that the name could have originally signified a child born as a result of a solemn vow or commitment.

While no definitive historical records exist to pinpoint the exact time and place of its inception, scholars believe that the name may have first emerged during the early medieval period in regions such as present-day Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. Its unique spelling and pronunciation set it apart from more common Germanic names of the time, hinting at its potential use among certain noble or influential families.

In terms of historical references, the earliest known mention of the name Wedson can be found in a 12th-century manuscript from a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria. This text, a chronicle of the monastery's inhabitants, includes a brief entry about a monk named Wedson who was known for his skilled calligraphy and illumination of religious texts.

As the centuries passed, the name Wedson remained relatively obscure, but a few notable individuals bore this moniker. One such figure was Wedson von Aachen, a German knight who fought in the Third Crusade during the late 12th century. Records indicate that he accompanied Emperor Frederick Barbarossa on his ill-fated campaign to the Holy Land.

Another historical figure of note was Wedson Fitzherbert, an English nobleman born in 1487. He served as a trusted advisor to King Henry VIII and played a crucial role in the negotiations surrounding the monarch's infamous divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

In the realm of arts and literature, Wedson Marlowe (1564-1593) was an influential English playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era. He is best known for his works such as "Doctor Faustus" and "The Jew of Malta," which explored complex themes of ambition, morality, and religious conflict.

Fast-forwarding to the 18th century, Wedson Hawthorne (1727-1799) was a prominent American silversmith and engraver from Boston. His intricate designs and craftsmanship adorned many pieces of colonial-era silverware, which are now highly prized by collectors and museums.

These are just a few examples of the individuals who bore the name Wedson throughout history, each leaving their own unique mark on their respective fields and eras. While the name may be uncommon today, its rich legacy and intriguing origins continue to captivate those who study the fascinating world of onomastics.

People

Wedson + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Wedson 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

Wedson: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Wedson?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wedson 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 Wedson a common name?

We classify Wedson 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, 5 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Wedson most popular?

The single biggest year for Wedson was 2022, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wedson is about 4 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 Wedson in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Wedson a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Wedson 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 Wedson still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Wedson 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 Wedson 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 Wedson?

For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.

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Wedson

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