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Home › Baby Names Directory › Waverly

Waverly

♂ Boy

Pronounced WAY-vur-lee /ˈweɪ.vər.li/High

Meaning: From the English place-name Waverley, usually read as 'meadow of quivering aspens' — from Old English waefre, 'quaking; wavering', and leah, 'clearing; meadow'. Sir Walter Scott's novel Waverley (1814) carried it into use. In the U.S. it leans toward girls, which we note honestly.Medium

In 30 seconds: A soft English place-name: Waverly means 'meadow of quivering aspens' (said 'WAY-vur-lee'). It leans toward girls — we note the lean.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningFrom the English place-name Waverley, usually read as 'meadow of quivering aspens' — from Old English waefre, 'quaking; wavering', and leah, 'clearing; meadow'. Sir Walter Scott's novel Waverley (1814) carried it into use. In the U.S. it leans toward girls, which we note honestly.
U.S. rank (2024)#14106 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1951
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,982

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195118812024

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

Waverly comes from Waverley in Surrey, England — home of the country's first Cistercian abbey — a name read as 'meadow of quivering aspens', from Old English waefre ('quaking') and leah ('clearing'). Sir Walter Scott's Waverley of 1814 gave the word literary life, and it became a surname and place-name across America. As a given name in the U.S. it leans toward girls, and a boy called Waverly will meet that lean — we note it honestly (said 'WAY-vur-lee').

For boys it appears only rarely in the U.S., against heavier use for girls. Rare, cross-sex, and lyrical.

Did you know? Waverly comes from an English place-name meaning 'meadow of quivering aspens' — trees whose leaves shiver in the wind. Sir Walter Scott's novel Waverley put it on the map. In the U.S. it is used more often for girls, which we note honestly.
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Waverly — English place-name Waverley; waefre + leah; Scott's novel; feminine lean

Variations

WaverleyWaverlieWaverli

Nicknames

WaveWav

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Waverly…

Beverly— a like -erly place-name
Everly— the closest modern rhyme
Wesley— a like English place-name for boys
Emerson— a like surname name used across the board

Explore names like Waverly

By themeenglishnatureplace-namecross-sex

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Waverly mean?

Waverly is an English place-name meaning 'meadow of quivering aspens', from waefre, 'quaking', and leah, 'meadow'.

How do you pronounce Waverly?

It's said WAY-vur-lee /ˈweɪ.vər.li/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Waverly a boy or girl name?

Here Waverly is used as a boy's name, but in the U.S. it leans toward girls — we note the lean.

How popular is Waverly?

Waverly is rare for boys in the U.S., and used more often for girls.

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