Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Wayne
BoyEnglish, Old English· “wagon maker, carter”
- Meaning
- wagon maker, carter
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- WAYN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #655
- US babies 2025
- 422
- Best rank
- #29 (1946)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Wayne
Wayne is an English and Old English name that means “wagon maker, carter”.
Wayne is an English occupational surname from the Old English waegn, a wagon, and it originally referred to a wagon maker or wagon driver. As a first name it became very common in the twentieth century, helped by the film star John Wayne, whose screen name made it a symbol of rugged Western masculinity. The hockey great Wayne Gretzky is another famous bearer. Wayne feels solid and mid-century, a simple one-syllable name with an easygoing character.
Popularity over time
Wayne has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #29 in 1946, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 10,169 were named Wayne. In 2025, 422 babies were named Wayne, and it ranked #655 nationally. That is 30% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #86 in 1920, #35 in 1950, #146 in 1980, #506 in 2000, #780 in 2010, and #655 in 2025. Of the 354,818 US boys named Wayne since records began, 25% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 75,131 babies. Since 2010, 5,181 more have been named Wayne.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Willie, Jimmy, Roy, Johnny, and Ronnie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Wayne ranked highest in Wyoming, Alaska, and Oregon.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Wayne is usually pronounced WAYN, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with W and ends in “-ne”.
Middle names for Wayne
A few middle names that flow with Wayne: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Wayne
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Lists that include Wayne
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wayne mean?
Wayne is an English and Old English name that means “wagon maker, carter”.
What is the origin of the name Wayne?
Wayne has English and Old English roots. Wayne is an English occupational surname from the Old English waegn, a wagon, and it originally referred to a wagon maker or wagon driver.
Is Wayne a popular name?
Yes. Wayne ranked #655 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Wayne a boy or girl name?
Wayne is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Wayne?
Wayne is usually pronounced WAYN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings