Wednesday Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Wednesday' originates from Old English, meaning 'Woden's day'. It has evolved from 'Wōdnesdæg' through various historical forms to its modern usage. The name reflects traits of wisdom associated with the god Woden, and it has no biblical relevance. Wednesday gained popularity as a consistent term for the middle day of the week since the 8th century. Today, it is commonly understood as a standard name for the day, with various linguistic variants and cultural associations.
The name Wednesday is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Wednesday has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Wednesday' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3745th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7236th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6159th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2376th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Wednesday' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wednesday"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɛnzdeɪ/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'Wednesday' originates from the Old English 'Wōdnesdæg', which translates to 'Woden's day'. It is named after the Germanic god Woden (also known as Odin in Norse mythology), who was associated with wisdom and knowledge.
Meaning
Woden's day
Language Evolution
Wōdnesdæg (Old English), Wodnesday (Middle English), Wednesday (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Wednesday has been used as the name for the middle day of the week since at least the 8th century and has remained consistent in its application since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.
Variants & Derivatives
Woden's Day, Wodnesday, Mercredi (French), Mittwoch (German)
Modern Popularity & Image
Wednesday is often viewed as a mundane day in the workweek, but it also has cultural associations with midweek events and activities. Its name carries a sense of tradition and historical significance.
Famous People
Wednesday Addams (fictional character from 'The Addams Family'), Wednesday Martin (author and cultural critic)
Explore More Wednesday Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wednesday"
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 "Wednesday"
"Wednesday" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3745th of 19264 | 270 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7236th of 27321 | 162 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6159th of 35406 | 314 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2376th of 30306 | 920 |
Regional Popularity of "Wednesday" by Generation for Male 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Wednesday" 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) |
- | - | - |
78.14% 3160th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
93.73% 5921st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
91.88% 6719th/7313 |
63.94% 4772nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
61.92% 2467th/3984 |
94.54% 4242nd/4487 |
36.56% 2494th/6822 |
33.91% 2128th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Wednesday"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wednesday" 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.