Wick

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIK /ˈwɪk/High

Meaning: From Old English wic, 'dwelling; village; farm' (from Latin vicus) — the element behind hundreds of English place-names ending in -wick. It is also the ordinary word for a candle's wick. In the U.S. the name now carries a strong pop-culture link to the John Wick films, which we note honestly.Medium

In 30 seconds: Short and sharp: Wick is Old English for 'a dwelling; a village' (said 'WIK'). It also carries a strong John Wick association, which we note.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom Old English wic, 'dwelling; village; farm' (from Latin vicus) — the element behind hundreds of English place-names ending in -wick. It is also the ordinary word for a candle's wick. In the U.S. the name now carries a strong pop-culture link to the John Wick films, which we note honestly.

U.S. rank (2024)#14114 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 36

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

Wick is an old and quiet English word: wic, 'dwelling; village; farmstead', taken into Old English from the Latin vicus. It survives in place-names across Britain — Warwick, Chiswick, Berwick — and as a surname. It is also the plain word for a candle's wick. As a modern first name it is short and sharp, and it now travels with a strong pop-culture association: the John Wick action films. We note that plainly so families choose knowingly (said 'WIK').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records. Rare, short, and sharp.

Did you know? Wick comes from the Old English wic — a dwelling or village, borrowed from Latin vicus. It sits at the end of names like Warwick and Chiswick. Many Americans will hear it first as John Wick, which we note honestly.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Wick — Old English wic, 'dwelling'; Latin vicus; John Wick association noted

Variations

WikWicksWarwick

Nicknames

WickyW

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Wick…

Nick— a like one-beat -ick name

Knox— a like sharp modern pick

Beck— the same crisp surname feel

Finn— a like short punchy name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Wick mean?

Wick comes from Old English wic, 'dwelling; village', the element behind place-names like Warwick. It is also the word for a candle's wick.

How do you pronounce Wick?

It's said WIK /ˈwɪk/ — one syllable.

Is Wick a boy or girl name?

Wick is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Wick?

Wick is a very rare name for boys in the U.S.