Waylon - A unique male name
Waylon at a glance
Waylon is ranked #56 among boy baby names in 2025, with 5,399 births in 2025. It peaked in 2025 at #56 and first appeared on the charts in 1924.
- Rank in 2025
- #56
- Births in 2025
- 5,399
- Peak year
- 2025 (#56)
- First appeared
- 1924
- Trend
- #103 in 2020 → #56 in 2025 (Rising)
- Popularity
- 1 in 272 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.4/5 (40 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 272 baby boys were given this name - making this a unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Waylon peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 56.
Famous with this name
Waylon
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Brady
How would you rate Waylon, 1-5?
Waylon is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Waylon is currently topping the baby name charts in West Virginia at position #1 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #395.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Waylon is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Waylon origin and meaning
English surname transfer — from Wayland
Uncertain — Wayland was the master smith of Germanic legend; whether the surname comes from the legend's name or from a place name ('land by the road'?) is unsettled
Wayland the Smith forged swords for kings in Norse and English myth, and English places called Wayland may remember him — or may just describe land beside a highway. Country outlaw Waylon Jennings chose the name (it was not his birth name, Wayland) and gave it its honky-tonk soul.
Origin uncertain
Waylon is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Waylon, pop culture references for the name Waylon and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Waylon
We've found the following names that sound similar to Waylon, sorted by popularity.
William / Waylen / Willem / Willian / Willam / Waylan / Wilhelm / Willaim / Wiliam / Wilmon /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 56 |
| 2024 | 65 |
| 2023 | 63 |
| 2022 | 66 |
| 2021 | 69 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2019 | 113 |
| 2018 | 142 |
| 2017 | 161 |
| 2016 | 196 |
| 2015 | 222 |
| 2014 | 251 |
| 2013 | 290 |
| 2012 | 325 |
| 2011 | 375 |
| 2010 | 424 |
| 2009 | 471 |
| 2008 | 535 |
| 2007 | 520 |
| 2006 | 538 |
| 2005 | 618 |
| 2004 | 692 |
| 2003 | 864 |
| 2002 | 790 |
| 2001 | 1358 |
| 2000 | 1142 |
| 1999 | 1260 |
| 1998 | 1135 |
| 1997 | 1148 |
| 1996 | 1089 |
| 1995 | 1202 |
| 1994 | 1119 |
| 1993 | 1085 |
| 1992 | 1067 |
| 1991 | 1146 |
| 1990 | 1258 |
| 1989 | 899 |
| 1988 | 1001 |
| 1987 | 842 |
| 1986 | 881 |
| 1985 | 663 |
| 1984 | 682 |
| 1983 | 650 |
| 1982 | 606 |
| 1981 | 477 |
| 1980 | 408 |
| 1979 | 468 |
| 1978 | 502 |
| 1977 | 546 |
| 1976 | 691 |
| 1975 | 854 |
| 1974 | 1089 |
| 1973 | 853 |
| 1972 | 939 |
| 1971 | 825 |
| 1970 | 772 |
| 1969 | 791 |
| 1968 | 911 |
| 1967 | 1336 |
| 1966 | 1495 |
| 1964 | 1770 |
| 1962 | 1764 |
| 1958 | 1140 |
| 1956 | 1337 |
| 1955 | 1545 |
| 1952 | 1446 |
| 1951 | 1422 |
| 1949 | 1741 |
| 1948 | 1535 |
| 1947 | 1777 |
| 1946 | 1690 |
| 1945 | 1591 |
| 1942 | 1387 |
| 1941 | 1631 |
| 1940 | 1174 |
| 1938 | 1007 |
| 1937 | 1000 |
| 1936 | 1449 |
| 1935 | 1494 |
| 1934 | 1151 |
| 1933 | 1131 |
| 1931 | 1317 |
| 1930 | 1327 |
| 1926 | 1692 |
| 1924 | 1608 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | 1 |
| Kentucky | 4 |
| Mississippi | 6 |
| Montana | 7 |
| Oklahoma | 8 |
| Arkansas | 9 |
| Tennessee | 9 |
| Alabama | 11 |
| South Carolina | 11 |
| Missouri | 13 |
| Iowa | 15 |
| Indiana | 15 |
| Kansas | 18 |
| Alaska | 20 |
| South Dakota | 21 |
| Idaho | 24 |
| North Dakota | 25 |
| Wyoming | 26 |
| Ohio | 26 |
| North Carolina | 27 |
| Louisiana | 28 |
| Georgia | 28 |
| Wisconsin | 30 |
| Oregon | 43 |
| Vermont | 47 |
| Maine | 48 |
| Nebraska | 48 |
| Michigan | 54 |
| Virginia | 55 |
| New Mexico | 56 |
| Minnesota | 56 |
| Pennsylvania | 58 |
| Washington | 69 |
| New Hampshire | 73 |
| Florida | 79 |
| Illinois | 80 |
| Utah | 84 |
| Arizona | 91 |
| Texas | 92 |
| Colorado | 93 |
| Maryland | 103 |
| Nevada | 154 |
| Delaware | 166 |
| New York | 185 |
| California | 215 |
| Connecticut | 236 |
| Massachusetts | 357 |
| New Jersey | 395 |
Even more about Waylon
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Waylon a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Waylon?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
WAY-lun · /ˈweɪlən/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Wayland — The source name — and Jennings's actual birth name.
- Waylen — Streamlined respelling.
Nicknames: Way
Famous bearers
- Waylon Jennings — Country outlaw singer — born Wayland Jennings; he adopted 'Waylon' early in his career (1937–2002) Contemporary
Style
SurnameVintage revival
Why parents choose it
Waylon is the legendary smith's name in a honky-tonk suit — Waylon Jennings wasn't born to it (he was Wayland) and chose it, which fits its self-made soul. Parents choose it as country's outlaw classic.
Worth knowing
- Its most famous bearer chose the name — born Wayland Jennings.
- Whether the surname comes from the legend's smith or a place name is unsettled (see meaning note).
