Total births
780
Boys' name · since 1908
Waddell
Waddell has 780 recorded births since 1908 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1947 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 780
- total births
- 1908–1990
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 18%
- born in that decade
780 boys have been named Waddell since 1908, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Waddell recorded 780 times among boys since 1908, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1908 to 1990.
- 780 total births
- 1908–1990 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 18% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
780 boys have been named Waddell since 1908, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1990.
- 780
- total births
- 1908–1990
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 18%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
18% of everyone ever named Waddell was born in this single decade.
1947
Single peak year
22 babies were named Waddell in 1947 - its busiest year on record.
Waddell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Waddell's full recorded timeline at 1945, 48% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 52% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1908, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1947 peak of 22 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Waddell at a glance
Last recorded 1990Peak year
1947
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1908
Waddell popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1908–1990
- Peak year (1947)
- 22
- Annual births at peak, across 83 years of records
Waddell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Waddell's strongest decade.
140 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 18% of all-time use.
Waddell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
89 births
- 1920s
1920s
140 births
- 1930s
1930s
125 births
- 1940s
1940s
135 births
- 1950s
1950s
123 births
- 1960s
1960s
84 births
- 1970s 48
1970s
48 births
- 1980s 26
1980s
26 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 140 births (18% of all-time use).
How Waddell compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Waddell's total volume
Waddell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Waddell by state
Where Waddell concentrates geographically, total births since 1908
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 77 | 9.9% |
| #2 | South Carolina | | 10 | 1.3% |
| #3 | Tennessee | | 6 | 0.8% |
| #4 | Mississippi | | 5 | 0.6% |
North Carolina share of Waddell's total US births 9.9%
Even split
77 of 780 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Waddell? ▼
780 babies have been named Waddell since 1908. It was last recorded in 1990. The peak year was 1947 with 22 births.
When was Waddell most popular? ▼
Waddell was most popular in the 1920s decade with 140 total births. The single peak year was 1947.
Where is Waddell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Waddell are North Carolina (77 births), South Carolina (10 births), Tennessee (6 births).
How long has the name Waddell been used? ▼
Waddell has been recorded in Social Security data since 1908, spanning 83 years of data through 1990.
What names are similar to Waddell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Wade, Wadell, Wadie, Wadsworth, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Waddell's data
- Waddell's decade-level peak was the 1920s (140 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Waddells (77 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Waddell
Nearby Names Like Waddell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Waddell
Wade Boy
#341 76,498 births
Wadell Boy
316 births
Wadie Boy
90 births
Wadsworth Boy
76 births
Waden Boy
46 births
Compare Waddell side by side: Waddell vs Wade Waddell vs Wadell Waddell vs Wadie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1908–1990 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Waddell: Baby Name Since 1908 - 780 Births, Peak 1947." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/waddell. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Waddell draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.