NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Wayde

An English variant of the Welsh surname waed meaning "blood, gore.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Wayde is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Wayde popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 6 births.

This profile covers 56 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1997 to 2020. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Wayde. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Wayde ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 6 boys were registered as Wayde.
  • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Wayde as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4608

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

6 births

Estimated living

56

2026

Meaning

What does Wayde mean?

The given name Wayde has its origins in the English language, with roots tracing back to the Middle English period (circa 1150-1500 CE). It is believed to be a variant of the name Wade, which itself derives from the Old English word "wadan," meaning "to go" or "to journey."

While the exact origins of the name Wayde are not entirely clear, it is thought to have emerged as a surname in parts of England during the 12th or 13th century. Over time, it transitioned into use as a given name, though it remained relatively uncommon compared to more prevalent names of the era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wayde can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England, dating back to 1191. These rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer, and they mention a individual named "Wayde de Hertford."

Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the name Wayde. One such figure was Wayde Hampton (1585-1643), an English politician and Member of Parliament who represented the borough of Shaftesbury during the early 17th century.

Another individual of note was Wayde Browne (1707-1782), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and is credited with helping to chart and map parts of the South Pacific region during his voyages in the mid-18th century.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook Wayde Fortescue (1819-1884), an English playwright and novelist who authored several popular works during the Victorian era, including the novel "The Crippled Heart" and the play "The Patrician's Daughter."

Crossing over into the field of science, Wayde Rutherford (1871-1937) was a renowned British physicist and Nobel laureate, best known for his pioneering work in the study of radioactivity and the structure of the atom.

Lastly, in the world of sports, Wayde van Niekerk (born 1992) is a South African sprinter and Olympic gold medalist, famous for his record-breaking performance in the 400-meter event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

While the name Wayde has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these individuals and their respective contributions have helped to keep the name alive and imbue it with a sense of historical significance across various fields and disciplines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Wayde over time

The chart below shows babies named Wayde registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Wayde, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Wayde
02356199720082020

Decades

Wayde by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Wayde 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 #4608 3 1
2010s #4194 34 9
2000s #3729 10 3
1990s #2221 9 2

Related

Names similar to Wayde

FAQ

Wayde: questions and answers

How popular is the name Wayde in the UK right now?

In 2020, Wayde was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Wayde most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 6 babies registered as Wayde in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Wayde?

An English variant of the Welsh surname waed meaning "blood, gore.".

How many people are called Wayde in the UK?

A total of 56 babies have been registered as Wayde across the 15 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.