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Name Lineage

    The first name Watts

    A boy’s name.

    1 syllable Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Patronymic surname from the Middle English given name Wat, derived from Walter, equivalent to Watt + -s.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Watts at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 6 boys born in the United States were named Watts, the 11,908th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2023, when 13 were.

    01020 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    81
    babies named Watts since 1880
    #11,908
    rank in 2025
    2023
    peak year

    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.

    Famous people named Watts

    4 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Watts S. Humphrey
      American engineer (1927–2010)
    • John Young
      American astronaut, naval officer, test pilot and aeronautical engineer (1930–2018)
    • Malcolm Sargent
      English conductor, organist and composer (1895-1967)
    • Donald Davies
      British computer scientist (1924-2000)

    Questions

    What does the name Watts mean?
    Patronymic surname from the Middle English given name Wat, derived from Walter, equivalent to Watt + -s.
    When was Watts most popular?
    2023 in the United States, when 13 babies were named Watts, its highest rank at 6,870th.
    Is Watts also a surname?
    Yes. Watts is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.