Boy · #8,115 in 2026

Waddell

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

Current Rank

#8,115

Peak Rank

#1,599 (1947)

Total Babies

780

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1908

First Year

1990

Last Year

1947

Peak Year

#1599

Peak Rank

780

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Waddell

Waddell first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1908, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1947, when 22 Waddells were born — ranking #1,599 that year. As of 2026, Waddell ranks #8,115 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 780 Waddells have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Waddell

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

Waddle
Wattle
Widdle
Weedle
Weddle
Widl
Woodle
Wedel
Weddell
Wedell
Woodall
Twaddell

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Waddell

What does the name Waddell mean?

Waddell is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1908. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Waddell in 2026?

In 2026, Waddell ranks #8,115 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Waddell most popular?

Waddell reached its peak popularity in 1947, ranking #1,599 that year with 22 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Waddell most popular?

Waddell has historically been most popular in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Waddell.

Is Waddell a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Waddell?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Waddell include Deaundre, Abdulaziz, Fillmore. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Waddell

Waddell is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1908 and has accumulated 780 births in the dataset. Waddell's peak popularity came in 1947 when it ranked #1,599. Use the chart and map above to compare Waddell'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.