Total births
38
Boys' name · since 1914
Wales
Wales has 38 recorded births since 1914 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1939 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 38
- total births
- 1914–1968
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
Wales is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 38 have been recorded since 1914.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Wales has been recorded 38 times among boys since 1914, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1930s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1914 to 1968.
- 38 total births
- 1914–1968 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 45% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
38 boys have been named Wales since 1914, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1968.
- 38
- total births
- 1914–1968
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
45% of everyone ever named Wales was born in this single decade.
1939
Single peak year
7 babies were named Wales in 1939 - its busiest year on record.
Wales's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Wales's SSA record in two at 1930 and the more recent half accounts for 58% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 42%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1914, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1939 peak of 7, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Wales at a glance
Last recorded 1968Peak year
1939
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1914
Wales popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1914–1968
- Peak year (1939)
- 7
- Annual births at peak, across 55 years of records
Wales by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Wales's strongest decade.
17 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 45% of all-time use.
Wales births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
11 births
- 1920s 5
1920s
5 births
- 1930s
1930s
17 births
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 17 births (45% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Wales? ▼
38 babies have been named Wales since 1914. It was last recorded in 1968. The peak year was 1939 with 7 births.
When was Wales most popular? ▼
Wales was most popular in the 1930s decade with 17 total births. The single peak year was 1939.
How long has the name Wales been used? ▼
Records for Wales go back to 1914, giving 55 years of history through 1968.
What names are similar to Wales? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Walter, Wallace, Walker, Walton, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Wales's data
- Wales's decade-level peak was the 1930s (17 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1960s -- 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 Wales
Nearby Names Like Wales
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Wales
Walter Boy
#271 631,172 births
Wallace Boy
#983 83,263 births
Walker Boy
#82 47,914 births
Walton Boy
#3275 5,889 births
Waldo Boy
5,716 births
Compare Wales side by side: Wales vs Walter Wales vs Wallace Wales vs Walker
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, 1914–1968 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Wales: Baby Name Since 1914 - 38 Births, Peak 1939." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/wales. 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 Wales 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.