Waverly
Waverly is a given name, a transferred use of a surname and place name that likely meant “meadow filled with quivering aspens”. Modern parents might also associate the name with ocean waves because of the first syllable of the name.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Waverly
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Waverly is a given name, a transferred use of a surname and place name that likely meant “meadow filled with quivering aspens”. Modern parents might also associate the name with ocean waves because of the first syllable of the name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Waverly
As a girl name
American parents first put Waverly on the record books as a girl name in 1914, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 384 Waverlys were born — ranking #752 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 47% of all recorded Waverlys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #943 among girl names with 277 births, holding steady (-4%). In total, more than 5K Waverlys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Waverly as a boy name dates back to 1881, when 5 babies received it. 1951 was its biggest year on record, with 46 newborns named Waverly — #1,053 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 2K Waverlys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Waverly
Phonetically similar names — useful when Waverly is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Waverley
- Haverly
- Wavery
- Wavily
- Savorly
- Warly
- Warley
- Warely
- Wehrli
- Wycherley
- Loverly
- Cheverly
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Waverly
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How popular is Waverly in 2026?
When was Waverly most popular?
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Is Waverly a unisex name?
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About the name Waverly
Waverly is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Waverly's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #736. Use the chart and map above to compare Waverly's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "W" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.