Holding steady.
Popularity of Wayman since 1884
Babies named Wayman per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1950, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Wayman's real moment was 1900.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 |
| 1890s | 56 |
| 1900s | 68 |
| 1910s | 260 |
| 1920s | 426 |
| 1930s | 379 |
| 1940s | 417 |
| 1950s | 472 |
| 1960s | 276 |
| 1970s | 207 |
| 1980s | 131 |
| 1990s | 89 |
| 2000s | 47 |
| 2010s | 7 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Wayman is a rare American given name with occupational roots, originally a surname meaning 'wagon maker.' First recorded in U.S. data in 1884, the name saw its peak usage in 1900, modestly appearing in a few early 20th-century birth records. Since then, its use has been sporadic and never broke into widespread popularity. Although it has not ranked in the top 1000 in recent years, the name's trajectory has remained stable, with occasional small upticks. The name carries a distinctly vintage, rural feel, evoking the horse-and-wagon era. Because it never had strong regional ties, it was distributed thinly across states. Its scarcity makes it a genuine rarity today, far more uncommon than similar occupational surnames-turned-first-names like Carter or Mason.
Wayman is an English occupational surname turned given name, derived from Middle English 'wayn' (wagon) and 'man' (man), originally referring to a wagon driver or maker. It emerged as a first name in the late 19th century in the United States, particularly in rural areas. Its use has remained rare, peaking modestly around 1900.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Way
Variants: Wyman
Sibling names for Wayman
Names that share Wayman's style, for a brother or sister.
