Boy · #12,301 in 2026

Waco

Name: Popularity of the name Waco in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Waco, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a U.S. census estimated 2024 population of 146,608, making it the 24th-most populous city in the state.

Current Rank

#12,301

Peak Rank

#2,799 (1974)

Total Babies

171

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1913

First Year

2024

Last Year

1974

Peak Year

#2799

Peak Rank

171

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Waco

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Waco, Texas .

The Story of Waco

Waco first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1913, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1974, when 13 Wacos were born — ranking #2,799 that year. As of 2026, Waco ranks #12,301 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 171 Wacos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Waco

Phonetically similar names — useful when Waco is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Wacko
Wakey
Whacko
Wako
Wacco
Walko
Yco
Woco
Weco
Heiko
Wake
Wacky

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Waco

What does the name Waco mean?

How popular is Waco in 2026?

In 2026, Waco ranks #12,301 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Waco most popular?

Waco reached its peak popularity in 1974, ranking #2,799 that year with 13 babies given the name.

Is Waco a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Waco is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Waco?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Waco include Corbet, Jj, Dack. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Waco

Waco is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1913 and has accumulated 171 births in the dataset. Waco's peak popularity came in 1974 when it ranked #2,799. Use the chart and map above to compare Waco's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.