Boy · #2,980 in 2026

Weir

A weir, or low-head dam is a barrier across the width of a body of water that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the water level. Weirs are used to control the flow of water for rivers, outlets of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, industrial discharge, and drainage control structures.

Current Rank
#2,980
Peak Rank
#2,772 (1923)
Total Babies
46
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1913
First Year
1929
Last Year
1923
Peak Year
#2772
Peak Rank
46
Total Count
7
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Weir

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

A weir, or low-head dam is a barrier across the width of a body of water that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the water level. Weirs are used to control the flow of water for rivers, outlets of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, industrial discharge, and drainage control structures.

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

Etymology
The word likely originated from Middle English were , Old English wer , a derivative of the root of the verb werian, meaning "to defend, dam". The German cognate is Wehr , which means the same as English weir.

The Story of Weir

Weir first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1913, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1923, when 10 Weirs were born — ranking #2,772 that year. As of 2026, Weir ranks #2,980 for baby boys with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 46 Weirs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

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 Weir

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

  • Wier
  • Where
  • Wear
  • Ware
  • Waer
  • Wher
  • Wair
  • Weare
  • Werre
  • Werr
  • Wehr
  • War

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Weir

What does the name Weir mean?
A weir, or low-head dam is a barrier across the width of a body of water that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the water level. Weirs are used to control the flow of water for rivers, outlets of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, industrial discharge, and drainage control structures.
How popular is Weir in 2026?
In 2026, Weir ranks #2,980 among boys' names in the U.S., with 8 babies given the name that year.
When was Weir most popular?
Weir reached its peak popularity in 1923, ranking #2,772 that year with 10 babies given the name.
Is Weir a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Weir is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Weir?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Weir include Thorwald, Wister, Hyram. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Weir

Weir is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1913 and has accumulated 46 births in the dataset. Weir's peak popularity came in 1923 when it ranked #2,772. Use the chart and map above to compare Weir'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.