What Does the Name Wade Mean?
Wade is a boy's name of English (Old English / Old Norse) origin meaning “to go, ford; or from the legendary figure Wada.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Wade |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | English (Old English / Old Norse) |
| Meaning | to go, ford; or from the legendary figure Wada |
| Variants | Wayde, Wayd |
| Popularity | Most popular in the United States as a boys' given name. |
The meaning and origin of Wade
The name Wade means “to go, ford; or from the legendary figure Wada” and has English (Old English / Old Norse) origins. An English name from Old English 'wadan' (to go, to wade through water), denoting someone who lived near a ford; it also derives from the medieval given name Wada, a legendary sea-giant in Germanic mythology.
Variants and related names
Wade is related to several other names you may recognize: Wayde, Wayd. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Wade?
Most popular in the United States as a boys' given name.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wade mean?+
The name Wade means “to go, ford; or from the legendary figure Wada” and is of English (Old English / Old Norse) origin.
What is the origin of the name Wade?+
Wade originates from English (Old English / Old Norse).
Is Wade a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Wade has trended in the US over time.
Wade by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press