A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Waco since 1913
Babies named Waco per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1974, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Waco's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 15 |
| 1920s | 8 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 8 |
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 79 |
| 1980s | 23 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Meaning & origin
Waco is an exceptionally rare given name, first recorded in the United States in 1913 with no subsequent rank among the top 1000 names. Its trajectory shows a revival trend since 2020, though numbers remain minuscule. The name's peak usage was in its first year, 1913, and it has seen only infrequent use since. As a place name adopted from the Waco tribe of Texas, Waco carries strong regional associations. Its one-in-N statistic is unavailable due to its extreme rarity. The name has no recorded top states, reflecting its scattered, minimal usage nationwide. For parents seeking a distinctive, geographic-inspired name with obscure origins, Waco offers a unique but potentially controversial choice due to its association with the 1993 Waco siege.
Waco is a rare given name derived from the city of Waco, Texas, which itself takes its name from the indigenous Waco (Huaco) tribe of the Wichita people. The tribal name may come from the Wichita word 'weyko' meaning 'water' or 'river'. The name first appears in U.S. baby name records in 1913 but remains exceedingly uncommon. Its modern usage is likely inspired by the Texas city rather than the tribe.
Sibling names for Waco
Names that share Waco's style, for a brother or sister.
