Waitman
A boy's name of Old English origin with 48 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Waitman is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English wæctmann or waitman, meaning 'watchman' or 'guard.' As a surname-turned-given-name, it carries the occupational heritage of medieval English naming.
Waitman was used as a given name in nineteenth-century America — Waitman Thomas Willey was a U.S. Senator from West Virginia during the Civil War era. It has the solid, purposeful quality of occupational names at their most literal.
EtymologyShow more
Waitman is cataloged under the Old English naming tradition. Names from the Old English tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Waitman has been recorded as a boy's name since 1913, with 48 total births. Browse the Old English names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Waitman has 8+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1913.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 | #4180 | — |
| 1930s | 5 | #4181 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 20 | #4134 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 18 | #3588 | — |
The Story of Waitman
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1924, Waitman is a name steeped in history. Boys named Waitman are most likely born between 1914 and 1934.
How rare is Waitman?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Waitman is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1913, peaked in the 1920s with 20 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Waitman by the numbers
- Would fill 1 school bus
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(8 years, 1913–1948)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 5 | #4180 |
| 1934 | 5 | #4181 |
| 1924 | 9 | #3246 |
| 1923 | 5 | #4866 |
| 1922 | 6 | #4290 |
| 1919 | 6 | #4144 |
| 1915 | 7 | #3375 |
| 1913 | 5 | #3244 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waitman a boy's or girl's name?
When was Waitman most popular?
How popular is the name Waitman?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1913–1948