Origin, Meaning, And History Of Wells
The name Wells has a rich history as both a personal name and a surname. As a given name, it is from an Old English word waella, which means “well” or “spring.” Because the arrival of the baby is often associated with a refreshing and life-changing addition to the family, the name Wells could be an ideal choice.
As a surname, Wells has Welsh and Norman roots, originally denoting an individual’s occupation as a “Wellman” or their proximity to a spring as in “Attewell.” It has also been derived from various topographical locations and is the name of many places across the United States and England.
In addition to its use as a first or last name, Wells is also a popular middle name among Americans. Whether as a nod to family history or a symbol of new beginnings, the name Wells has a timeless appeal.
The name Wells has various variations, including Well, Welman, Welles, Walsh, Walls, Welce, Welch, Welsh, Welles, Weller, Welborne, Welby, and Weldon. It is also an Americanized form of the French word “Dupuis,” meaning ‘from the well.’
Wells has made appearances as both a given and surname for fictional characters in literature, movies, and TV shows. In ‘The Nanny Express,’ Chris Wells carries the surname, while Wells is a popular character in ‘The 100’ and ‘The Umbrella Academy’ TV series. The name has also been used in various books, such as ‘The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place’ by Maryrose Wood, where Wells Wainwright is a character, and ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, where Wells is a name used for a character. The iconic character of ‘The Time Machine’ (1960) movie, based on the novel by H.G. Wells, also carries the name.
While Wells is not a common name, it still has a notable number of parents choosing it for their baby’s name.
How To Pronounce Wells?
Famous People With The Name Wells
- Wells A. HutchinsAmerican lawyer and politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio during American Civil War
- Wells GoodykoontzAmerican politician of West Virginia, member of the US House of Representatives
- 井SpicerAmerican journalist, prospector, politician, lawyer, and judge
- Wells ThompsonAmerican soccer player who was a midfielder in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for Carolina RailHawks
- Wells TowerAmerican writer of short stories, non-fiction, feature films and TV
Wells On The Popularity Chart
The Social Security Administration records show that Wells has been a unique name choice over the years. Look through the below graphs to learn more.
Popularity Over Time
As the graph suggests, the name Wells has constantly been a not-so-popular naming choice among parents over the years. In most years, less than 50 babies per million were named Wells. However, the popularity reached by 2020 with 618 babies per million.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Looking at the graph below, the ranking of the name Wells has consistently been above 16000 ranks. However, after 2008, a significant improvement in ranking was observed.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Wells
If you like the jingling sound of this one-syllable word, we have provided some more naming suggestions with a similar sound.
Popular Sibling Names For Wells
Other Popular Names Beginning With W
Names With Similar Meaning As Wells
Whether you like spring or your baby is a spring-born baby, we have added more naming suggestions with similar meanings to Wells.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
wells
In Sign Language
wells
In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Wells
常见问题
1. What is the meaning of the name Wells?
The name Wells means ‘well’ or ‘spring.’
2. What is the origin of the name Wells?
Wells is of English origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Wells?
Wells is pronounced as wells.
4. Is Wells a popular name?
井是一个流行的名字,姓氏和given name. It is widely used as a surname in many countries, including the United States, where it ranks among the top 1,000 most common surnames. As a given name, Wells has been gaining popularity, especially in the United States, in recent years. Its increasing usage as a first name reflects its growing appeal among parents seeking a strong and distinctive name choice (1).
5. Is Wells a girl’s name?
Wells can indeed be a name for girls and boys. Although it originated as a surname, Wells has been used as a first name for centuries. Interestingly, it was historically more commonly used as a name for girls, appearing as a female name in the mid-16th century.
References:
- Popularity of name Wells.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
