Total births
316
Boys' name · since 1915
Wadell
316 babies named Wadell in U.S. Social Security records since 1915, with the highest year being 1932. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 316
- total births
- 1915–1995
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
Wadell is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 316 have been recorded since 1915.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Wadell has been recorded 316 times among boys since 1915, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1915 to 1995.
- 316 total births
- 1915–1995 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 26% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
316 boys have been named Wadell since 1915, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 1995.
- 316
- total births
- 1915–1995
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
26% of everyone ever named Wadell was born in this single decade.
1932
Single peak year
14 babies were named Wadell in 1932 - its busiest year on record.
Wadell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Wadell splits its recorded history at 1950: 50% of all births land in the more recent half, 50% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1915 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1932 peak of 14 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Wadell at a glance
Last recorded 1995Peak year
1932
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1915
Wadell popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1915–1995
- Peak year (1932)
- 14
- Annual births at peak, across 81 years of records
Wadell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Wadell's strongest decade.
81 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Wadell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 20
1910s
20 births
- 1920s
1920s
45 births
- 1930s
1930s
48 births
- 1940s
1940s
46 births
- 1950s
1950s
81 births
- 1960s
1960s
46 births
- 1970s 20
1970s
20 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 81 births (26% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Wadell? ▼
Wadell has been given to 316 babies in the U.S. since 1915, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1995. 14 babies were born in 1932, its single highest year.
When was Wadell most popular? ▼
Wadell was most popular in the 1950s decade with 81 total births. The single peak year was 1932.
How long has the name Wadell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Wadell since 1915 -- 81 years through the most recent 1995 data.
What names are similar to Wadell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Wade, Waddell, Wadie, Wadsworth, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Wadell's data
- Wadell's decade-level peak was the 1950s (81 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.
- 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 Wadell
Nearby Names Like Wadell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Wadell
Wade Boy
#341 76,498 births
Waddell Boy
780 births
Wadie Boy
90 births
Wadsworth Boy
76 births
Waden Boy
46 births
Compare Wadell side by side: Wadell vs Wade Wadell vs Waddell Wadell 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, 1915–1995 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Wadell: Baby Name Since 1915 - 316 Births, Peak 1932." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/wadell. 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 Wadell 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.