Watts

♂ Boy

Pronounced WATS /ˈwɒts/Medium

Meaning: From the English surname Watts, 'son of Watt,' a medieval short form of Walter ('ruler of the army'); it also echoes the watt, the unit of power. A crisp one-beat surname name.Low

In 30 seconds: A crisp surname name: Watts means 'son of Watt' (from Walter) (said 'WATS'). Modern and rare.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom the English surname Watts, 'son of Watt,' a medieval short form of Walter ('ruler of the army'); it also echoes the watt, the unit of power. A crisp one-beat surname name.

U.S. rank (2023)#6862 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births13 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 75

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Watts is an English surname meaning 'son of Watt,' a medieval short form of Walter ('ruler of the army'); it also echoes the watt, the unit of power. A crisp, one-beat surname name — rare in the U.S. (said 'WATS').

It appears only rarely as a first name in the U.S. Rare, surname-style, and crisp.

Did you know? Watts is an English surname, 'son of Watt' (from Walter, 'ruler of the army'), and echoes the watt, the unit of power — a crisp surname name (said 'WATS').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Watts — English surname 'son of Watt' (Walter); unit of power

Variations

WattWattesWattz

Nicknames

WattWattsy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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By thememodern english short surname

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Watts mean?

Watts is an English surname meaning 'son of Watt,' from Walter; it also echoes the unit of power.

How do you pronounce Watts?

It's said WATS /ˈwɒts/ — one syllable.

Is Watts a boy or girl name?

Watts is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Watts?

Watts is a very rare first name in the U.S.