Rising since 1988, #6,446 for boys today.
Popularity of Wael since 1977
Babies named Wael per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2015, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Wael's real moment was 2022.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 25 |
| 1980s | 50 |
| 1990s | 91 |
| 2000s | 109 |
| 2010s | 153 |
| 2020s | 92 |
Meaning & origin
Wael has been in steady but modest use in the United States since it was first recorded in 1977. In 2025, the name ranked 6,446th, meaning roughly 1 in 131,390 newborn boys received the name. Its popularity has been gradually rising since 1988, with a peak rank of 5,394 in 2022. While no single U.S. state claims especially high usage, Wael remains a recognizable Arabic name with deep historical roots, often chosen by families who appreciate its connection to the concept of refuge and its early Islamic heritage.
Wael (also transliterated as Wa'il) derives from the Arabic root و-ئ-ل (w-'l), which conveys the idea of seeking refuge or returning to a safe place. In pre-Islamic and early Islamic contexts, the name was borne by several notable figures, including Wael ibn Hujr, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. It remains common throughout the Arabic-speaking world.
“Wael” around the world
Where Wael lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
155
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Wa'il, Wail
Sibling names for Wael
Names that share Wael's style, for a brother or sister.
