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Welles

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Welles Pronunciation

Welles is pronounced WELZ /ˈwɛlz/High

Meaning: From the English surname Welles/Wells — 'dweller by the springs or wells', from Old English wellaMedium

In 30 seconds: By the springs, with cinematic class: Welles is the surname 'dweller by the wells' — and an echo of film genius Orson Welles. Crisp, single-syllable, and distinguished.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom the English surname Welles/Wells — 'dweller by the springs or wells', from Old English wella

U.S. rank (2024)#3583 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births32 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 428

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Welles comes from the English surname (a variant of Wells) meaning 'dweller by the springs or wells', from Old English wella, 'spring, stream'. The -es spelling carries a distinguished air, echoing filmmaker Orson Welles. A crisp single-syllable surname-name.

It registers thinly in recent records. Rare, spring-rooted, and distinguished.

Did you know? Orson Welles — who made 'Citizen Kane' at twenty-five — lends this springs-and-wells surname a whiff of cinematic genius and bold ambition.

Overall data confidence 78%

Surname dictionaries — Wells/Welles — etymology

Variations

WellsWelle

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Welles…

Wells— the standard spelling of the same name

Brooks— a fellow water-themed surname-name

Banks— the companion -s surname-name

Ford— another water-crossing surname-name

→ See all names like Welles

Browse the whole category: All English names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Welles?

Welles is pronounced WELZ (/ˈwɛlz/). Press play above to hear Welles said aloud.

How do you say Welles?

Welles is said WELZ (/ˈwɛlz/). Press play above to hear Welles said aloud.

What does the name Welles mean?

Welles is an English surname meaning 'dweller by the springs or wells'.

Is Welles a boy or girl name?

Welles is a boy's name.

How popular is Welles?

Welles is a rare name in the U.S.