Waive
A girl's name of Old French origin with 26 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Waive peaked during early twentieth-century America, when 8 babies received this name in a single year (1915). That era was defined by heritage-rooted naming, and Waive has a more concentrated history, reflecting a specific cultural moment rather than a broad generational wave.
Waive is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Waive is a girl's baby name with an unusually evocative quality for a given name. The English word waive comes from the Old French weyver, meaning "to abandon" or "to relinquish a claim." In legal usage, to waive something is to voluntarily give it up — but in naming, the sound becomes something else entirely: airy, flowing, almost onomatopoeic of water or wind.
Names chosen for their sound rather than their dictionary meaning have a long tradition, and Waive — like Wave, Wren, or Breeze — belongs to the growing family of nature- and element-adjacent word names. The sound carries freedom and lightness, whatever the formal definition.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Waive belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, approachable ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. At one syllable, it has a punchy, memorable cadence that makes an immediate impression.
Within the Old French naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Old French names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Waive’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Waive has 4+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1915.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 21 | — |
The Story of Waive
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1915, Waive is a name steeped in history. Girls named Waive are most likely born between 1915 and 1921.
How rare is Waive?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Waive is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1915, peaked in the 1910s with 21 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(4 years, 1915–1921)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 5 | #5835 |
| 1918 | 5 | #5555 |
| 1917 | 8 | #3702 |
| 1915 | 8 | #3421 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waive a boy's or girl's name?
When was Waive most popular?
How popular is the name Waive?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1915–1921