Wayland Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Wayland has its origin in Old English, meaning 'land by the way' or 'path'. It evolved from 'Wæland' in Old English to its current form in Modern English, reflecting its historical significance. The name is associated with traits of strength and craftsmanship, stemming from the legendary figure Wayland the Smith. It does not have biblical relevance but gained popularity through folklore in medieval England.
The name Wayland is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Wayland has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Wayland' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1031st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 949th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1165th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1326th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2595th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4982nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2989th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Wayland' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wayland"
Pronunciation
/ˈweɪlənd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Wayland is derived from the Old English word 'Wæland', which is believed to mean 'land by the way' or 'path'. It has connections to the legendary figure Wayland the Smith, a master blacksmith in Germanic mythology.
Meaning
land by the way, path
Language Evolution
Old English: Wæland, Middle English: Wayland, Modern English: Wayland
Historical Usage
Wayland gained popularity in the early medieval period, particularly in England, due to the legendary stories surrounding Wayland the Smith, which were popular in folklore.
Variants & Derivatives
Waylon, Weyland, Weland
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Wayland is perceived as a unique and somewhat old-fashioned name, often associated with strength and craftsmanship due to its mythological roots.
Famous People
Wayland Jennings, an American singer-songwriter., Wayland Flowers, an American puppeteer and actor known for his character Madame.
Explore More Wayland Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wayland"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Wayland"
"Wayland" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1031st of 7545 | 714 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 949th of 6773 | 837 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1165th of 7552 | 794 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1326th of 10718 | 659 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2595th of 16616 | 382 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4982nd of 24088 | 263 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2989th of 23106 | 482 |
Regional Popularity of "Wayland" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
68.86% 975th/1416 |
- |
36.60% 866th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
61.06% 944th/1546 |
- |
31.58% 743rd/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
33.40% 953rd/2853 |
44.68% 1240th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
29.45% 1036th/3518 |
38.97% 1576th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
45.40% 2358th/5194 |
41.36% 2613th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
60.11% 4396th/7313 |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
79.99% 3187th/3984 |
- |
47.23% 3222nd/6822 |
54.99% 3451st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Wayland" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Wayland"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wayland" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.