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At a Glance: Name: Waverly – Meaning: meadow of quivering aspen trees – Origin: English (place name/surname) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: WAY-vur-lee
Waverly is an English name that started out as a place name and surname, not a nature or water word — despite how often it gets linked to ocean 'waves.' It actually comes from an Old English place name meaning 'meadow of quivering aspen trees.' Said WAY-vur-lee (IPA /ˈweɪvərli/), it fits a storybook, vintage style for parents drawn to older, place-rooted names for a girl.
Meaning & Origin of Waverly
Meaning: Meadow of quivering aspen trees.
Origin: English (place name/surname).
A common claim: Often assumed to relate to ocean 'waves,' evoking something flowing or wave-like. Actually: Waverly isn't related to 'waves' — it likely comes from an Old English place name meaning 'meadow of quivering aspen trees.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Waverly
Phonetic: WAY-vur-lee IPA: /ˈweɪvərli/
Popularity of Waverly
Waverly's closest brush with popularity was back in 1900, when it hit rank #735 with just 13 girls given the name. By 2024 it had drifted to rank #916, yet 289 girls received it that year — far more babies than in 1900, even though the rank itself is lower.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.
Make Waverly Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Waverly, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Waverly mean?
Meadow of quivering aspen trees. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Waverly)
How do you pronounce Waverly?
Waverly is pronounced WAY-vur-lee (IPA: /ˈweɪvərli/).
Is Waverly a popular name right now?
Waverly peaked at #735 in 1900 and is ranked #916 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)
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