Wade
Boy name · #344 in 2025 · Uniqueness 52/100
Wade is currently the #344 boy name in the United States — 948 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #519, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,899 boys born in 2025 was named Wade.
The 145-year story
Wade first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 56 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1970, when 1,423 boys were named Wade — good for #189 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Wade per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wade against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wade in class?
Wade scores 52 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Wade is most common
Geography matters for names, and Wade is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Wades were TX (78), NC (63), FL (55), CA (54), OH (46). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Wade
Statistically, parents drawn to Wade tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Andre, Eric, Troy, Martin, and Jay.
AndreEricTroyMartinJayBrianReneVance
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wade | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 948 | #344 |
| 2024 | 1,010 | #341 |
| 2023 | 977 | #341 |
| 2022 | 953 | #344 |
| 2021 | 1,018 | #326 |
| 2020 | 944 | #340 |
| 2019 | 999 | #335 |
| 2018 | 917 | #361 |
| 2017 | 902 | #367 |
| 2016 | 791 | #406 |
| 2015 | 555 | #519 |
| 2014 | 509 | #543 |
| 2013 | 486 | #546 |
| 2012 | 470 | #554 |
| 2011 | 462 | #551 |
| 2010 | 415 | #599 |
| 2009 | 402 | #620 |
| 2008 | 426 | #592 |
| 2007 | 486 | #529 |
| 2006 | 454 | #553 |
| 2005 | 486 | #506 |
| 2004 | 463 | #519 |
| 2003 | 403 | #556 |
| 2002 | 414 | #539 |
| 2001 | 464 | #495 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wade a popular boy name?
Wade ranked #344 among boys in 2025 with 948 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #519.
When was the name Wade most popular?
Wade peaked in 1970, when 1,423 American boys received the name (ranked #189 that year). Since 1970 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wade?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,899 newborn American boys was named Wade. It scores 52/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.