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Wadell

Quick answerWadell is a Scottish surname derived from the Old English "wad" (meaning woad, a blue dye plant) combined with the suffix "-ell," literally meaning "one who deals with woad" or "woad dyer." The name has roots in occupational surnames common to medieval Britain and Scotland.

Boy · 2 syllables

W
Rare

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#10,271
TrendVintage
Peak year1932
Syllables2
Origin
Letters6
Numerology3 Chaldean 22
Global rank#10,271

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Wadell

Wadell is a Scottish surname derived from the Old English "wad" (meaning woad, a blue dye plant) combined with the suffix "-ell," literally meaning "one who deals with woad" or "woad dyer." The name has roots in occupational surnames common to medieval Britain and Scotland.

Cross-referenced with Behind the Name. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

Wadell is a Scottish surname derived from the Old English "wad" (meaning woad, a blue dye plant) combined with the suffix "-ell," literally meaning "one who deals with woad" or "woad dyer." The name has roots in occupational surnames common to medieval Britain and Scotland.

The name is primarily associated with Scottish and English cultures, with the Wadell family having established prominence in the Scottish Borders region during the medieval period; it remains most common in Scotland and among Scottish diaspora communities.

```json
{"origin":"Scottish","language":"Old English","culture":"Scottish","religion":null}
```

Wadell currently ranks #10,271 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1932.

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