Boy · #367 in 2026

Wells

Wells is an English habitational surname but is possibly also from an old English word for Wales. It normally derives from occupation, location, and topography. The occupational name derives from the person responsible for a village's spring. The locational name derives from the pre-7th century "wælla" ("spring"). The topographical name derives from living near a spring.

  • English
Current Rank
#367
Peak Rank
#367 (2026)
Total Babies
8K
5-Yr Trend
+86%
1998
First Year
2026
Last Year
2019
Peak Year
#6402
Peak Rank
191
Total Count
17
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Wells

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

Wells is an English habitational surname but is possibly also from an old English word for Wales. It normally derives from occupation, location, and topography. The occupational name derives from the person responsible for a village's spring. The locational name derives from the pre-7th century "wælla" ("spring"). The topographical name derives from living near a spring.

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

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
Origin & history
It is said that the origin is sometimes derived from the city of Wells , but could also be from an old English word for Wales or a habitational surname from any of several places named with the plural of Old English well(a) ‘spring’, ‘stream’, or a topopgraphical name from this word (in its plural form), for example Wells in Somerset or Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk . Translation of French Dupuis or any of its variants. Later an abbey church was built in Wells in 705 by Aldhelm , first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Sherborne during the reign of King Ine of Wessex . It was dedicate

The Story of Wells

The earliest SSA record of Wells as a baby boy name dates back to 1881, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 896 newborns named Wells — #367 in the national rankings. About 66% of every Wells on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Wells ranks #367 for baby boys with 896 births, rising sharply (+86% over the past five years). All told, over 8K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to 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 Wells

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

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wells

What does the name Wells mean?
Wells is an English habitational surname but is possibly also from an old English word for Wales. It normally derives from occupation, location, and topography. The occupational name derives from the person responsible for a village's spring. The locational name derives from the pre-7th century "wælla" ("spring"). The topographical name derives from living near a spring.
What is the origin of the name Wells?
Wells has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English.
How popular is Wells in 2026?
In 2026, Wells ranks #367 among boys' names in the U.S., with 896 babies given the name that year.
When was Wells most popular?
Wells reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #367 that year with 896 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Wells most popular?
Wells has historically been most popular in Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Wells.
Is Wells a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Wells is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Wells?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Wells include Devan, Kareem, Arlie. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Astrea
Peak #6402
👧
Wisteria
Peak #6402
👧
Blaize
Peak #6402
👧
Naloni
Peak #6402
👧
Rehema
Peak #6402
👧
Nyomie
Peak #6402
👧
Aiyah
Peak #6402
👧
Aritza
Peak #6402

About the name Wells

Wells is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1881 and has accumulated 8K births in the dataset. Wells's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #367. Use the chart and map above to compare Wells'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.