UK girl's name
Waverly
A feminine name of English origin meaning "quavering meadow" or "undulating field".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Waverly is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Waverly popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 10 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2018 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Waverly. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Waverly ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 10 girls were registered as Waverly.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Waverly as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2020
10 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Waverly mean?
The name Waverly is a habitational surname that originated in England, derived from the placename Waverley, which means "meadow haunted by quails" or "quail field." The name is a combination of the Old English words "waefre," meaning "quavering" or "wandering," and "leah," meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow."
One of the earliest known references to the name Waverly can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded the landholdings of Waverley Abbey in Surrey, England. The abbey, founded in 1128, played a significant role in the early dissemination of the name.
Sir Walter Scott's novel "Waverley," published in 1814, is believed to have contributed to the popularization of the name. The novel's protagonist, Edward Waverley, was a young English officer who became involved in the Jacobite uprising of 1745.
The name gained further prominence in the United States due to its association with the town of Waverley, Massachusetts, established in the early 19th century. Waverley Mills, a textile manufacturing company founded in the town, also helped to spread the name.
Notable historical figures with the first name Waverly include:
1. Waverly Root (1903-1982), an American journalist and author known for his works on language and etymology. 2. Waverly Jones (1942-2005), an American actor and singer best known for his role as Woodrow "Woody" Anderson on the sitcom "227." 3. Waverly Bryson (1888-1959), an American singer and vaudeville performer who was a member of the Bryson Quartet. 4. Waverly Williams (1923-2016), an American gospel singer and songwriter, known for her work with the Dixie Hummingbirds. 5. Waverly Aurich (1923-2000), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Waverly Company, a manufacturer of home furnishings.
The name Waverly has a rich historical background, with roots in Old English and connections to various literary, religious, and cultural aspects throughout its journey. While its popularity has fluctuated over time, it continues to be a distinctive and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Waverly over time
The chart below shows babies named Waverly registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Waverly, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waverly by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Waverly was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4610 | 20 | 4 |
| 2010s | #5176 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Waverly
- Willow 24,627
- Wren 2,824
- Winnie 2,339
- Wiktoria 1,725
- Winter 1,458
- Winifred 1,113
- Wynter 965
- Whitney 880
- Weronika 811
- Willa 548
- Wendy 509
- Willow-Rose 470
FAQ
Waverly: questions and answers
How popular is the name Waverly in the UK right now?
In 2023, Waverly was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Waverly most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 10 babies registered as Waverly in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Waverly?
A feminine name of English origin meaning "quavering meadow" or "undulating field".
How many people are called Waverly in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Waverly across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.