Fun Facts About the Name Wayne
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 354,807 boys named Wayne from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Wayne stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 57 consecutive years, from 1915 through 1971.
- More than 356 thousand babies named Wayne: U.S. records list 356,411 babies given the name Wayne from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,604 girls received the name Wayne - about 1 girl for every 221 boys.
What Does the Name Wayne Mean?
Wayne is an English name meaning "wagon driver" or "wagon maker." It comes from the Middle English wayn and the Old English wægn, both meaning "wagon" or "cart." As a surname, it was likely an occupational name for someone who drove or made wagons, or a topographic or habitational name for someone who lived near a wagon route or a place named with this word. The given name Wayne is a transferred use of the surname, not a direct Old English personal name. The exact sense of the surname - driver, maker, or place - is not always certain, because these types of surname formation overlap.
Wayne Name History & Origins
Wayne began as an English surname. In medieval England, wayn (from Old English wægn) meant "wagon" or "cart," and surnames formed from such words could identify a person by occupation or by residence. The surname is found in England by the later Middle Ages. English surnames were increasingly used as given names in Britain's American colonies and in the United States, and Wayne followed that pattern. The American Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne (1745 - 1796) is a notable bearer of the surname, and many places in the United States are named for him. In the 20th century, the actor John Wayne (born Marion Robert Morrison, 1907) made the name familiar to mass audiences. As a given name, Wayne is used mainly in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
How Popular is the Name Wayne?
Wayne remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1915 to 1971. Its highest annual birth count was in 1947, and people born that year turn 79 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | #15,553 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #9,655 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,316 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #5,605 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1986 | #4,720 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #5,340 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #4,962 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #3,338 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1982 | #5,899 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #9,085 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #8,156 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #8,045 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #4,078 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #4,064 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #5,591 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #4,846 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #3,105 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1973 | #4,355 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #4,296 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #3,503 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #2,643 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1969 | #3,008 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1968 | #3,783 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #3,081 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1966 | #2,583 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1965 | #2,832 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1964 | #2,672 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #2,702 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #2,260 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1961 | #2,355 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1960 | #2,430 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1959 | #1,983 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1958 | #2,165 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1957 | #2,119 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1956 | #1,896 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1955 | #2,059 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1954 | #1,701 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1953 | #1,930 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1952 | #2,578 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #2,245 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1950 | #2,338 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #1,844 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1948 | #2,488 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1947 | #1,696 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1946 | #2,227 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1945 | #2,739 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1944 | #2,397 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1943 | #1,946 | 21 | 0.0015% |
| 1942 | #1,915 | 21 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #1,880 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1940 | #1,843 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,542 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1938 | #1,381 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1937 | #1,629 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1936 | #2,147 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #1,659 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1934 | #2,184 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1933 | #1,328 | 30 | 0.0030% |
| 1932 | #1,518 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1931 | #1,633 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1930 | #1,498 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1929 | #1,446 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1928 | #1,501 | 29 | 0.0025% |
| 1927 | #1,521 | 30 | 0.0025% |
| 1926 | #2,251 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1925 | #1,942 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1924 | #1,869 | 23 | 0.0018% |
| 1923 | #1,779 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1922 | #2,284 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1921 | #1,922 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1920 | #2,012 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1919 | #1,919 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1918 | #1,751 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1917 | #2,097 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1916 | #2,365 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1915 | #2,047 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1914 | #3,601 | 6 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #2,028 | 11 | 0.0018% |
| 1912 | #2,621 | 7 | 0.0013% |
| 1911 | #2,453 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1910 | #2,392 | 6 | 0.0015% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #655 | 422 | 0.0247% |
| 2024 | #686 | 394 | 0.0230% |
| 2023 | #734 | 359 | 0.0210% |
| 2022 | #770 | 329 | 0.0189% |
| 2021 | #781 | 316 | 0.0181% |
| 2020 | #775 | 305 | 0.0177% |
| 2019 | #746 | 321 | 0.0179% |
| 2018 | #778 | 299 | 0.0165% |
| 2017 | #810 | 281 | 0.0152% |
| 2016 | #740 | 330 | 0.0174% |
| 2015 | #744 | 325 | 0.0170% |
| 2014 | #789 | 292 | 0.0152% |
| 2013 | #756 | 301 | 0.0159% |
| 2012 | #781 | 291 | 0.0153% |
| 2011 | #702 | 327 | 0.0172% |
| 2010 | #780 | 284 | 0.0148% |
| 2009 | #754 | 304 | 0.0153% |
| 2008 | #692 | 344 | 0.0169% |
| 2007 | #675 | 354 | 0.0171% |
| 2006 | #649 | 358 | 0.0174% |
| 2005 | #667 | 319 | 0.0160% |
| 2004 | #598 | 364 | 0.0183% |
| 2003 | #580 | 382 | 0.0193% |
| 2002 | #533 | 420 | 0.0216% |
| 2001 | #527 | 421 | 0.0217% |
| 2000 | #506 | 453 | 0.0231% |
| 1999 | #453 | 507 | 0.0264% |
| 1998 | #436 | 526 | 0.0275% |
| 1997 | #436 | 515 | 0.0273% |
| 1996 | #389 | 605 | 0.0319% |
| 1995 | #358 | 674 | 0.0354% |
| 1994 | #333 | 746 | 0.0386% |
| 1993 | #318 | 834 | 0.0425% |
| 1992 | #293 | 917 | 0.0459% |
| 1991 | #263 | 1,031 | 0.0510% |
| 1990 | #242 | 1,148 | 0.0559% |
| 1989 | #232 | 1,167 | 0.0583% |
| 1988 | #209 | 1,242 | 0.0649% |
| 1987 | #200 | 1,298 | 0.0695% |
| 1986 | #191 | 1,343 | 0.0729% |
| 1985 | #185 | 1,384 | 0.0749% |
| 1984 | #174 | 1,478 | 0.0819% |
| 1983 | #171 | 1,528 | 0.0852% |
| 1982 | #159 | 1,714 | 0.0945% |
| 1981 | #156 | 1,751 | 0.0977% |
| 1980 | #146 | 1,842 | 0.1032% |
| 1979 | #149 | 1,831 | 0.1063% |
| 1978 | #138 | 1,888 | 0.1150% |
| 1977 | #138 | 1,950 | 0.1187% |
| 1976 | #131 | 2,020 | 0.1287% |
| 1975 | #120 | 2,134 | 0.1367% |
| 1974 | #120 | 2,217 | 0.1410% |
| 1973 | #107 | 2,448 | 0.1571% |
| 1972 | #103 | 2,792 | 0.1722% |
| 1971 | #92 | 3,333 | 0.1885% |
| 1970 | #80 | 4,006 | 0.2156% |
| 1969 | #75 | 3,898 | 0.2180% |
| 1968 | #63 | 4,253 | 0.2447% |
| 1967 | #62 | 4,469 | 0.2563% |
| 1966 | #59 | 4,888 | 0.2741% |
| 1965 | #65 | 5,115 | 0.2750% |
| 1964 | #61 | 5,833 | 0.2927% |
| 1963 | #63 | 6,030 | 0.2969% |
| 1962 | #63 | 6,322 | 0.3056% |
| 1961 | #61 | 6,760 | 0.3183% |
| 1960 | #58 | 7,189 | 0.3372% |
| 1959 | #51 | 7,878 | 0.3691% |
| 1958 | #48 | 8,329 | 0.3925% |
| 1957 | #47 | 8,687 | 0.4027% |
| 1956 | #45 | 8,717 | 0.4121% |
| 1955 | #44 | 8,727 | 0.4237% |
| 1954 | #41 | 9,175 | 0.4500% |
| 1953 | #40 | 8,905 | 0.4515% |
| 1952 | #38 | 9,088 | 0.4676% |
| 1951 | #37 | 9,327 | 0.4954% |
| 1950 | #35 | 9,259 | 0.5172% |
| 1949 | #35 | 8,927 | 0.5032% |
| 1948 | #34 | 8,682 | 0.4948% |
| 1947 | #30 | 10,168 | 0.5558% |
| 1946 | #29 | 8,808 | 0.5424% |
| 1945 | #35 | 6,738 | 0.5007% |
| 1944 | #37 | 6,722 | 0.4932% |
| 1943 | #41 | 6,763 | 0.4738% |
| 1942 | #41 | 6,484 | 0.4695% |
| 1941 | #37 | 6,111 | 0.4975% |
| 1940 | #39 | 5,727 | 0.4941% |
| 1939 | #39 | 5,653 | 0.5107% |
| 1938 | #40 | 5,226 | 0.4712% |
| 1937 | #44 | 4,613 | 0.4325% |
| 1936 | #45 | 4,408 | 0.4250% |
| 1935 | #49 | 4,057 | 0.3896% |
| 1934 | #48 | 4,035 | 0.3908% |
| 1933 | #52 | 3,562 | 0.3592% |
| 1932 | #57 | 3,388 | 0.3245% |
| 1931 | #58 | 3,217 | 0.3094% |
| 1930 | #65 | 2,981 | 0.2717% |
| 1929 | #69 | 2,741 | 0.2548% |
| 1928 | #69 | 2,855 | 0.2578% |
| 1927 | #67 | 2,881 | 0.2557% |
| 1926 | #68 | 2,812 | 0.2532% |
| 1925 | #74 | 2,713 | 0.2431% |
| 1924 | #74 | 2,730 | 0.2410% |
| 1923 | #75 | 2,597 | 0.2369% |
| 1922 | #78 | 2,476 | 0.2275% |
| 1921 | #81 | 2,417 | 0.2194% |
| 1920 | #86 | 2,180 | 0.2048% |
| 1919 | #90 | 1,955 | 0.1995% |
| 1918 | #91 | 1,912 | 0.1887% |
| 1917 | #96 | 1,715 | 0.1853% |
| 1916 | #98 | 1,587 | 0.1783% |
| 1915 | #97 | 1,517 | 0.1788% |
| 1914 | #111 | 1,001 | 0.1529% |
| 1913 | #113 | 760 | 0.1483% |
| 1912 | #118 | 617 | 0.1435% |
| 1911 | #126 | 280 | 0.1239% |
| 1910 | #141 | 228 | 0.1174% |
| 1909 | #155 | 163 | 0.0994% |
| 1908 | #138 | 178 | 0.1153% |
| 1907 | #155 | 148 | 0.1008% |
| 1906 | #167 | 116 | 0.0871% |
| 1905 | #178 | 107 | 0.0809% |
| 1904 | #193 | 92 | 0.0718% |
| 1903 | #182 | 92 | 0.0772% |
| 1902 | #187 | 90 | 0.0734% |
| 1901 | #173 | 87 | 0.0817% |
| 1900 | #214 | 85 | 0.0565% |
| 1899 | #224 | 57 | 0.0537% |
| 1898 | #214 | 68 | 0.0554% |
| 1897 | #243 | 51 | 0.0452% |
| 1896 | #247 | 55 | 0.0460% |
| 1895 | #236 | 56 | 0.0477% |
| 1894 | #226 | 58 | 0.0501% |
| 1893 | #234 | 55 | 0.0490% |
| 1892 | #318 | 35 | 0.0287% |
| 1891 | #317 | 29 | 0.0287% |
| 1890 | #254 | 45 | 0.0405% |
| 1889 | #312 | 32 | 0.0289% |
| 1888 | #283 | 41 | 0.0339% |
| 1887 | #310 | 29 | 0.0286% |
| 1886 | #368 | 23 | 0.0208% |
| 1885 | #362 | 24 | 0.0223% |
| 1884 | #300 | 34 | 0.0297% |
| 1883 | #336 | 25 | 0.0239% |
| 1882 | #387 | 22 | 0.0194% |
| 1881 | #295 | 30 | 0.0298% |
| 1880 | #361 | 23 | 0.0208% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
