Wellington Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Wellington originates from Old English, meaning 'settlement by the spring'. It evolved from Wellingtun in Old English to its modern form. The name has strong traits of leadership and resilience, partly due to its association with historical figures like the Duke of Wellington. There is no direct biblical relevance.
The name Wellington is most popular in Michigan, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast 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, Wellington has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, 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 Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Wellington' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 977th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1453rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1856th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2512th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3332nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4864th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3578th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Wellington' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wellington"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɛlɪŋtən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Wellington is derived from the Old English elements 'wella', meaning 'spring' or 'stream', and 'tun', meaning 'settlement' or 'enclosure'. It originally referred to a settlement near a spring.
Meaning
settlement by the spring
Language Evolution
Wellingtun (Old English), Wellington (Middle English), Wellington (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Wellington gained popularity in the 19th century, especially after the Duke of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, which made the name widely recognized and respected.
Variants & Derivatives
Welly, Wells, Wellie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Wellington is perceived as a strong and dignified name, often associated with leadership and resilience due to its historical connections.
Famous People
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Wellington Mara, American businessman, Wellington boots, a popular footwear style
Explore More Wellington Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wellington"
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 "Wellington"
"Wellington" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 977th of 7545 | 795 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1453rd of 6773 | 409 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1856th of 7552 | 343 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2512th of 10718 | 241 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3332nd of 16616 | 265 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4864th of 24088 | 272 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3578th of 23106 | 373 |
Regional Popularity of "Wellington" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
49.15% 696th/1416 |
43.73% 603rd/1379 |
81.45% 1927th/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
64.49% 997th/1546 |
60.15% 936th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
45.02% 1568th/3483 |
- |
53.07% 2146th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
50.15% 2244th/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
51.10% 2639th/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
69.30% 2761st/3984 |
- |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Wellington" 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 "Wellington"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wellington" 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.