Wentz
A diminutive form of the Germanic given name Wendelin, meaning "wanderer" or "Gaulish".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Wentz. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Wentz today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wentz births was 2018 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Wentz. 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 Wentz. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2018
5 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2018 SSA rank
#13,979
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Wentz: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Wentz 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 Wentz during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Wentz
The given name Wentz is believed to have originated from the German language. It is likely derived from the Old German word "wintan," which means "to wind" or "to turn." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near a winding river or road.
The earliest known recorded use of the name Wentz dates back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. It was particularly prevalent in areas such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Swabia. During this time, the name appeared in various spellings, including "Wentz," "Wenz," and "Wentze."
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Wentz was a German knight named Konrad Wentz, who lived in the late 13th century. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to the Holy Roman Emperor.
In the 16th century, the name Wentz gained prominence in the religious sphere. Johannes Wentz, a German Protestant theologian and reformer, was born in 1529 and played a significant role in the spread of the Reformation in Germany.
As the name spread across Europe, it also found its way into literature and historical records. In the 17th century, a German poet named Hans Wentz gained recognition for his collection of romantic poems and ballads.
During the 19th century, the name Wentz was associated with several notable figures. Carl Wentz, a German composer and musician, was born in 1818 and is known for his contributions to the development of classical music.
Another prominent individual with the name Wentz was Friedrich Wentz, a German explorer and naturalist. Born in 1835, he was renowned for his expeditions to the Amazon rainforest and his detailed accounts of the indigenous tribes and flora and fauna found in the region.
As the name spread to other parts of the world, it continued to be associated with remarkable individuals. In the early 20th century, an American artist named Margaret Wentz gained recognition for her intricate landscape paintings and portraiture.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the given name Wentz throughout history. While the name's origins can be traced back to Germany, it has since transcended cultural boundaries and been embraced by people from various backgrounds and nationalities.
People
Wentz + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Wentz 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
Wentz: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Wentz?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wentz 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 Wentz a common name?
We classify Wentz 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 Wentz most popular?
The single biggest year for Wentz was 2018, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wentz is about 8 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 Wentz in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Wentz a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Wentz 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 Wentz still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Wentz 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 Wentz 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 called Wentz?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.