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Home › Baby Names Directory › Welles

Welles

♂ Boy

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 (2025)#2985 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births42 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 470

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202119152025

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

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

  • ★Welles Crowther (1977-2001)
    American equities trader and volunteer firefighter who saved lives during the September 11 attacks
  • ★Orson Welles (1915-1985)
    Iconic American filmmaker and actor best known for directing Citizen Kane

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

Explore names like Welles

By themeenglishsurname-namenature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Welles mean?

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

How do you pronounce Welles?

It's said WELZ /ˈwɛlz/ — a single syllable.

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.

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