How to say it
WADE
weɪd
Masculine
Wade
At the ford; to go
What it means
From Old English wadan, 'to go' or 'to wade,' and a place name for a river crossing.
Wade comes from the Old English wadan, 'to go' or 'wade across,' and from places named for a ford. There was also a Germanic legendary hero named Wade, a giant of the sea whose tale Chaucer still referenced centuries later. As a name it is short, sturdy, and a touch Southern, worn by baseball's Wade Boggs. It reads plainspoken and grounded.
How to spell Wade
The standard spelling is Wade. Common variants include Wayde, Waid, but Wade is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #183 in 1966, currently #344 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
From a ford-crossing place name and the old legend of Wade the sea-giant.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Wade Boggs Hall of Fame baseball third baseman
Spelling variants
- Wayde
- Waid
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Wade mean?
- From Old English wadan, 'to go' or 'to wade,' and a place name for a river crossing.
- What does Wade mean in English?
- In English, Wade means "At the ford; to go." Wade comes from the Old English wadan, 'to go' or 'wade across,' and from places named for a ford. There was also a Germanic legendary hero named Wade, a giant of the sea whose tale Chaucer still referenced centuries later. As a name it is short, sturdy, and a touch Southern, worn by baseball's Wade Boggs. It reads plainspoken and grounded.
- How do you pronounce Wade?
- Wade is pronounced weɪd. Say it as WADE, with the stress on the "wade" syllable.
- How do you spell Wade?
- The standard spelling is Wade. Common spelling variants include Wayde, Waid.
- Is Wade a boy or girl name?
- Wade is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Wade?
- Wade ranked #344 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.