Declining since 2022, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Waverley since 1995
Babies named Waverley per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 89 |
| 2020s | 136 |
Meaning & origin
Waverley is a rare literary name that has seen modest use since the 1990s. It first appeared on U.S. records in 1995 and reached its peak popularity in 2022, when it ranked about 2,800 places higher than its current position. Since then, its trajectory has been falling, with fewer than 50 births per year nationwide. The name derives from Sir Walter Scott's 1815 novel 'Waverley', making it a subtle nod to English literature. Its rarity and soft, surname-style sound appeal to parents seeking an elegant alternative to more common girls' names ending in '-ley' or '-lee'. While Waverley is not associated with any specific U.S. state, its use is scattered across the country.
The name Waverley is derived from Sir Walter Scott's 1814 novel 'Waverley', the first of his Waverley novels. Scott likely adapted the name from the Waverley estate in England, whose name may come from Old English 'wæfre' (quaking aspen) and 'leah' (clearing or meadow). The name was used for the title character, a young English soldier, and has since been used as a given name for both girls and boys, though it is now more common for girls.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Wave, Lee
Variants: Waverly
Sibling names for Waverley
Names that share Waverley's style, for a brother or sister.
