A familiar Old English name with steady appeal.
Waylen is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, a variant spelling of Waylon, derived from the legendary Anglo-Saxon smith Weland, meaning "land by the road" or referencing the mythological craftsman of the gods.
Waylen carries the same country music resonance as its counterpart Waylon — a nod to Waylon Jennings, the outlaw country legend. The variant spelling gives it a slightly more modern, streamlined look while preserving the name's deep American roots.
Waylen climbed 6710 spots in the last 20 years — from #7506 to #796.
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,247 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 710 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 192 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 40 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 17 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 32 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 12 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5 | — |
| 1940s | 5 | — |
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 315 | #796 |
| 2023 | 402 | #678 |
| 2022 | 263 | #893 |
| 2021 | 157 | #1229 |
| 2020 | 110 | #1525 |
| 2019 | 147 | #1276 |
| 2018 | 85 | #1807 |
| 2017 | 87 | #1777 |
| 2016 | 68 | #2084 |
| 2015 | 61 | #2230 |
| 2014 | 67 | #2094 |
| 2013 | 53 | #2398 |
| 2012 | 53 | #2412 |
| 2011 | 60 | #2200 |
| 2010 | 29 | #3705 |
| 2009 | 28 | #3824 |
| 2008 | 24 | #4260 |
| 2007 | 33 | #3377 |
| 2006 | 24 | #4095 |
| 2005 | 27 | #3606 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Waylen has also been given to 63 girls in the U.S. since 2017.
Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1947–2024) · Methodology