The first name Wade

In 2025, 22 boys were named Wade, making it the 1,276th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 49 births (#709).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Wade with other names.

In 2025, 948 boys born in the United States were named Wade, the 344th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1970, when 1,423 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Wade Williams
  American actor (born 1961)
• Wade Barrett
  British professional wrestler (born 1980)
• Hendrik Wade Bode
  American engineer, researcher, and inventor (1905–1982)
• Wade Domínguez
  American actor (1966-1998)
• Wade Hampton III
  American politician (1818-1902)
• Wade Robson
  Australian choreographer, creative director, and songwriter, born 1982
• Wade Redden
  Canadian ice hockey player, born 1977
• Wade Boggs
  American baseball player, born 1958
• Manly Wade Wellman
  American writer (1903-1986)
• Wade Elliott
  English footballer and manager (born 1978)
• Wade Baldwin
  American basketball player (born 1996)
• Wade Belak
  Canadian ice hockey player (1976–2011)

• Tyler
• Alfred
• Blake
• Grayson
• Stanley
• Tom
• Wyatt
• Miles
• Brandon
• Maxwell
• Landon
• Bradley
• Spencer
• Wesley
• Colton
• Hugh

All 216 names of English origin

What does the name Wade mean?

Wade means “a ford” in English.

What is the origin of the name Wade?

From Old English wæd (“a ford”).

How popular is the name Wade?

In 2025, 22 boys born in England and Wales were named Wade, ranking 1,276th. Its peak was 2017, with 49 births.

Is Wade a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 76,666 US babies named Wade since 1880 were boys.

When was Wade most popular?

1970 in the United States, when 1,423 babies were named Wade, its highest rank at 189th.

How do you pronounce Wade?

Wade is /weɪd/, one syllable.

What are other spellings of Wade?

Waide.

Is Wade also a surname?

Yes. Wade is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.