Boy · #3,930 in 2026

Wetzel

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

Current Rank

#3,930

Peak Rank

#2,522 (1928)

Total Babies

181

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1916

First Year

1965

Last Year

1928

Peak Year

#2522

Peak Rank

181

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Wetzel

Wetzel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1916, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1928, when 11 Wetzels were born — ranking #2,522 that year. As of 2026, Wetzel ranks #3,930 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 181 Wetzels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Wetzel

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

Whetzel
Witzel
Weitzel
Whetsel
Hetzel
Wentzel
Wurtzel
Wesil
Wentzell
Tetzel
Petzel
Netzel

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wetzel

What does the name Wetzel mean?

Wetzel is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1916. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Wetzel in 2026?

In 2026, Wetzel ranks #3,930 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Wetzel most popular?

Wetzel reached its peak popularity in 1928, ranking #2,522 that year with 11 babies given the name.

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

Wetzel has historically been most popular in West Virginia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Wetzel.

Is Wetzel a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Wetzel?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Wetzel include Ervie, Filomeno, Estanislao. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Wetzel

Wetzel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 181 births in the dataset. Wetzel's peak popularity came in 1928 when it ranked #2,522. Use the chart and map above to compare Wetzel'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.