Quaid

Meaning & origin

Quaid is a rare first name that first entered U.S. records in 1971, but it has never achieved widespread use. In the most recent data (2025), it ranked 4,857th nationwide, with approximately 1 in 85,404 newborn boys receiving the name. Its popularity reached a modest peak in 2016, but it has been on a downward trajectory since around 2015. The name has no strong association with any particular U.S. state, as it is distributed thinly across the country. The origin of Quaid is debated: it is likely an Irish surname, either from Mac Uaid ('son of Wat') or from the Gaelic 'cáid' ('bad, evil'). In modern contexts, it may be seen as a variant of Quade or simply as a surname-turned-first-name, possibly influenced by the visibility of actors Dennis and Randy Quaid. Quaid remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking an uncommon but familiar-sounding name with Irish roots.

The name Quaid is rare and likely of Irish origin, possibly an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Uaid, meaning 'son of Wat' (a diminutive of Walter). Alternatively, it may derive from the Irish word 'cáid' meaning 'bad' or 'evil', but this is debated. In modern usage, Quaid has been used as a given name, possibly inspired by actors like Dennis Quaid and Randy Quaid, though this connection is speculative. Its first recorded use as a first name in U.S. data is 1971.