Unisex name · since 1970
Wai
174 babies named Wai in U.S. Social Security records since 1970, with the highest year being 1977. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #13,839 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 174
- born since 1970
- 1980s
- peak decade
Wai is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 174 have been recorded since 1970.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Wai has been recorded 174 times among boys since 1970, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1970 to 1995.
- #13,839 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 174 born since 1970
- 1980s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Wai ranks #13,839 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 174 born since 1970, peaking in the 1980s.
- #13,839 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 174
- born since 1970
- 1980s
- peak decade
Wai's 174 recorded births place it above 69.56% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by New York.
Wai's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Wai's SSA record in two at 1983 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1970, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1977 peak of 15, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Wai popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1970–1995
- Peak year (1977)
- 15
- Annual births at peak, across 26 years of records
Wai popularity over time - girls
88 total births recorded since 1971 (Wai as girls' name)
Wai by decade
1980s is the heaviest window (96 births, 55% of the file).
1980s was Wai's strongest decade.
96 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 55% of all-time use.
Wai births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
61 births
- 1980s
1980s
96 births
- 1990s 17
1990s
17 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 96 births (55% of all-time use).
Wai by state
Where Wai concentrates geographically, total births since 1970
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 70 | 40.2% |
70 of 174 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Wai's data
- Wai's decade-level peak was the 1980s (96 total births); usage has since declined to 17 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Wais (70 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Wai
Nearby Names Like Wai
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Wai
Compare Wai side by side: Wai vs Waino Wai vs Waitman Wai vs Waid
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Wai: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1977)
Similar record span (~25 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1970–1995 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Wai 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 August 2026.