Boys' name · since 1916
Wetzel
181 babies named Wetzel in U.S. Social Security records since 1916, with the highest year being 1928. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #13,595 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 181
- born since 1916
- 1920s
- peak decade
181 boys have been named Wetzel since 1916, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Wetzel recorded 181 times among boys since 1916, 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 1916 to 1965.
- #13,595 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 181 born since 1916
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Wetzel ranks #13,595 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 181 born since 1916, peaking in the 1920s.
- #13,595 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 181
- born since 1916
- 1920s
- peak decade
Wetzel's 181 recorded births place it above 70.1% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by West Virginia.
Wetzel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Wetzel splits its recorded history at 1941: 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 1920 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1928 peak of 11 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Wetzel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1916–1965
- Peak year (1928)
- 11
- Annual births at peak, across 50 years of records
Wetzel by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (52 births, 29% of the file).
1920s was Wetzel's strongest decade.
52 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Wetzel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 6
1910s
6 births
- 1920s
1920s
52 births
- 1930s
1930s
33 births
- 1940s
1940s
32 births
- 1950s
1950s
32 births
- 1960s
1960s
26 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 52 births (29% of all-time use).
Wetzel by state
Where Wetzel concentrates geographically, total births since 1916
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Virginia | | 56 | 30.9% |
56 of 181 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Wetzel? ▼
Where does Wetzel sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Wetzel most popular? ▼
Where is Wetzel most popular? ▼
How long has the name Wetzel been used? ▼
What to do with Wetzel's data
- Wetzel's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (52 total births) through the 1960s (26) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- West Virginia records the most Wetzels (56 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. West Virginia names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Wetzel
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Wetzel: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1928)
Similar record span (~49 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, 1916–1965 (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 Wetzel 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.