Wade
Boy name · #344 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Wade? In official American birth records, Wade has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Wade is currently the #344 boy name in the United States — 948 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #519, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,899 boys born in 2025 was named Wade.
The 145-year story
Wade first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 56 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1970, when 1,423 boys were named Wade — good for #189 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Wade per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wade against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wade in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wade is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Wade is most common
Geography matters for names, and Wade is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Wade is most common in MT (3.2 per 1,000), ID (2.5 per 1,000), WV (1.6 per 1,000), UT (1.6 per 1,000), WI (1.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Wade is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Wade
Statistically, parents drawn to Wade tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Andre, Eric, Troy, Martin, and Jay.
AndreEricTroyMartinJayBrianReneVance
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wade | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 948 | #344 |
| 2024 | 1,010 | #341 |
| 2023 | 977 | #341 |
| 2022 | 953 | #344 |
| 2021 | 1,018 | #326 |
| 2020 | 944 | #340 |
| 2019 | 999 | #335 |
| 2018 | 917 | #361 |
| 2017 | 902 | #367 |
| 2016 | 791 | #406 |
| 2015 | 555 | #519 |
| 2014 | 509 | #543 |
| 2013 | 486 | #546 |
| 2012 | 470 | #554 |
| 2011 | 462 | #551 |
| 2010 | 415 | #599 |
| 2009 | 402 | #620 |
| 2008 | 426 | #592 |
| 2007 | 486 | #529 |
| 2006 | 454 | #553 |
| 2005 | 486 | #506 |
| 2004 | 463 | #519 |
| 2003 | 403 | #556 |
| 2002 | 414 | #539 |
| 2001 | 464 | #495 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Wade?
In official American birth records, the name Wade first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 56 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Wade a popular boy name?
Wade ranked #344 among boys in 2025 with 948 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #519.
When was the name Wade most popular?
Wade peaked in 1970, when 1,423 American boys received the name (ranked #189 that year). Since 1970 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wade?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,899 newborn American boys was named Wade. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.