Wells

“Spring (natural water source)” — Old English origin

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

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. It is also an American family name — about 176,000 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census. Wells climbed sharply in 2017, possibly helped by Wells Adams’s appearance on The Bachelorette, as SSA suggested.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,200 boys in Canada (2024).

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

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)

In stories & tradition

Wells Fargo — The Idea

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 · Kross

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

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