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Wells

Boy's name · #347 in the US (2025) · Trending

Popularity over time

Wells is moving up the charts. First recorded in 1881, it stood at #347 in 2025 — its strongest showing yet; about 7,000 boys have been named Wells along the way.

Wells climbed sharply in 2017, possibly helped by Wells Adams’s appearance on The Bachelorette, as SSA suggested.

Across the states

See where Wells is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 41 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Wells ranks in other countries and regions.

#440 in Canada (2024).

Famous Wellses

• Wells Coates — Canadian architect (1895–1958)
• Wells Thompson — American soccer player
• Wells Tower — Author
• Wells Goodykoontz — American politician (1872–1944)
• Wells Root — American film director and screenwriter (1900–1993)

As a surname

It is also an American family name — about 176,000 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census.

• H. G. Wells — English writer (1866–1946)
• Ida B. Wells — American journalist and civil rights activist (1862–1931)
• Allan Wells — British sprinter

In stories & tradition

• Wells Fargo — The Idea (musical stage work)

What Wellses become

Among 26 notable people named Wells:

Political leaders appear 2.49× more often than among typical names — e.g. Wells Goodykoontz, American politician (1872–1944).

Similar names: Truett · Westyn · Sutton · Rhodes · Boone · Hayes

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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