Unisex · #943 in 2026

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.

Current Rank
#943
Peak Rank
#736 (2022)
Total Babies
5K
5-Yr Trend
-4%
👧 Girl peak #736 (5K total)
👦 Boy peak #1,053 (2K total)
👧As Girl Name
1914
First Year
2026
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#736
Peak Rank
5K
Total Count
82
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
1881
First Year
2024
Last Year
1951
Peak Year
#1053
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
121
Years Active

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 →

The Story of Waverly

As a girl name

Waverly first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 384 Waverlys were born — ranking #752 that year. As of 2026, Waverly ranks #943 for girls 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

Waverly first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1881, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1951, when 46 Waverlys were born — ranking #1,053 that year. As of 2026, Waverly ranks #12,301 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. 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

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

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

What does the name Waverly mean?
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.
How popular is Waverly in 2026?
In 2026, Waverly ranks #943 among girls' names in the U.S., with 277 babies given the name that year.
When was Waverly most popular?
Waverly reached its peak popularity in 2022, ranking #736 that year with 384 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Waverly most popular?
Waverly has historically been most popular in Montana, Mississippi, West Virginia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Waverly.
Is Waverly a unisex name?
Yes — Waverly is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 71% of Waverlys assigned female and 29% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Waverly?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Waverly include Walter, Santos, Palma. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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

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.