Fun Facts About the Name Wanda
- An established favorite: Wanda held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 46 consecutive years, from 1922 through 1967.
- More than 282 thousand babies named Wanda: U.S. records list 282,188 babies given the name Wanda from 1880 through 2025. Even 972 boys received the name Wanda - about 1 boy for every 289 girls.
What Does the Name Wanda Mean?
Wanda is a Polish feminine name whose meaning is uncertain. It is sometimes linked to a reconstructed Proto-Germanic word for "wand" or "staff" (wanduz), but that derivation is not securely established. The common gloss "wanderer" is also speculative, and the name is not clearly derived from a known Slavic word.
The name is closely associated with the legendary Polish princess Wanda, but the story does not establish its literal meaning.
Wanda Name History & Origins
Wanda is best known from the legend of Princess Wanda, told in the medieval Polish chronicles of Gallus Anonymus and Wincenty Kadłubek. In the best-known version, Wanda is the daughter of Krak, the legendary founder of Kraków. She rules after her father and refuses to marry a German prince, drowning herself in the Vistula rather than accept the match. The story was repeated in later Polish literature and history writing and became part of Polish national tradition. Whether the name was already in use before the legend took shape is not known.
The name is also used in German, English, and French. In English it is pronounced WAHN-duh; in Polish the W is pronounced like English v. Its use outside Poland does not establish a separate origin, and the name's ultimate etymology remains uncertain.
How Popular is the Name Wanda?
Wanda remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1922 to 1967. Its highest annual birth count was in 1957, and people born that year turn 69 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,096 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2024 | #5,123 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2023 | #5,939 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2022 | #5,622 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2021 | #4,081 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2020 | #6,615 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2019 | #8,576 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #6,227 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #5,039 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2016 | #4,727 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2015 | #5,446 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2014 | #5,785 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2013 | #4,744 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #5,106 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #5,716 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #7,200 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #3,734 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 2008 | #4,170 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2007 | #4,939 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2006 | #4,803 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2005 | #3,206 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2004 | #3,985 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2003 | #2,412 | 69 | 0.0038% |
| 2002 | #2,495 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 2001 | #2,662 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 2000 | #2,455 | 63 | 0.0035% |
| 1999 | #1,997 | 79 | 0.0045% |
| 1998 | #2,065 | 72 | 0.0041% |
| 1997 | #2,306 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 1996 | #1,863 | 79 | 0.0045% |
| 1995 | #1,639 | 91 | 0.0052% |
| 1994 | #1,582 | 97 | 0.0054% |
| 1993 | #1,283 | 133 | 0.0074% |
| 1992 | #1,369 | 122 | 0.0066% |
| 1991 | #1,059 | 172 | 0.0092% |
| 1990 | #980 | 191 | 0.0101% |
| 1989 | #976 | 179 | 0.0097% |
| 1988 | #956 | 175 | 0.0098% |
| 1987 | #804 | 218 | 0.0125% |
| 1986 | #899 | 182 | 0.0106% |
| 1985 | #741 | 234 | 0.0136% |
| 1984 | #612 | 293 | 0.0174% |
| 1983 | #569 | 319 | 0.0191% |
| 1982 | #553 | 335 | 0.0198% |
| 1981 | #465 | 457 | 0.0274% |
| 1980 | #445 | 481 | 0.0290% |
| 1979 | #384 | 576 | 0.0359% |
| 1978 | #361 | 588 | 0.0384% |
| 1977 | #322 | 729 | 0.0475% |
| 1976 | #272 | 856 | 0.0584% |
| 1975 | #230 | 1,057 | 0.0725% |
| 1974 | #209 | 1,205 | 0.0821% |
| 1973 | #187 | 1,412 | 0.0968% |
| 1972 | #166 | 1,775 | 0.1167% |
| 1971 | #137 | 2,365 | 0.1421% |
| 1970 | #132 | 2,718 | 0.1555% |
| 1969 | #126 | 2,684 | 0.1591% |
| 1968 | #115 | 2,963 | 0.1806% |
| 1967 | #100 | 3,473 | 0.2104% |
| 1966 | #84 | 4,094 | 0.2419% |
| 1965 | #81 | 4,655 | 0.2637% |
| 1964 | #81 | 5,165 | 0.2726% |
| 1963 | #76 | 5,594 | 0.2902% |
| 1962 | #77 | 6,004 | 0.3053% |
| 1961 | #70 | 6,465 | 0.3203% |
| 1960 | #66 | 6,676 | 0.3302% |
| 1959 | #65 | 6,907 | 0.3413% |
| 1958 | #66 | 6,891 | 0.3426% |
| 1957 | #59 | 7,712 | 0.3771% |
| 1956 | #61 | 7,547 | 0.3759% |
| 1955 | #61 | 7,415 | 0.3792% |
| 1954 | #58 | 7,446 | 0.3834% |
| 1953 | #57 | 7,205 | 0.3830% |
| 1952 | #54 | 7,163 | 0.3863% |
| 1951 | #52 | 7,232 | 0.4016% |
| 1950 | #52 | 6,929 | 0.4045% |
| 1949 | #56 | 6,307 | 0.3686% |
| 1948 | #57 | 5,919 | 0.3486% |
| 1947 | #66 | 5,649 | 0.3187% |
| 1946 | #59 | 5,235 | 0.3332% |
| 1945 | #58 | 4,295 | 0.3286% |
| 1944 | #58 | 4,431 | 0.3339% |
| 1943 | #56 | 4,705 | 0.3372% |
| 1942 | #54 | 4,792 | 0.3548% |
| 1941 | #53 | 4,735 | 0.3919% |
| 1940 | #52 | 4,708 | 0.4117% |
| 1939 | #50 | 4,557 | 0.4156% |
| 1938 | #49 | 4,513 | 0.4090% |
| 1937 | #55 | 4,202 | 0.3949% |
| 1936 | #56 | 3,882 | 0.3731% |
| 1935 | #49 | 4,102 | 0.3912% |
| 1934 | #47 | 4,368 | 0.4183% |
| 1933 | #48 | 4,268 | 0.4234% |
| 1932 | #52 | 4,261 | 0.3993% |
| 1931 | #54 | 4,395 | 0.4128% |
| 1930 | #56 | 4,524 | 0.4018% |
| 1929 | #61 | 4,397 | 0.3938% |
| 1928 | #63 | 4,318 | 0.3744% |
| 1927 | #66 | 4,302 | 0.3608% |
| 1926 | #66 | 4,125 | 0.3480% |
| 1925 | #72 | 3,803 | 0.3124% |
| 1924 | #74 | 3,735 | 0.2991% |
| 1923 | #80 | 3,405 | 0.2823% |
| 1922 | #92 | 2,986 | 0.2486% |
| 1921 | #101 | 2,738 | 0.2220% |
| 1920 | #117 | 2,198 | 0.1834% |
| 1919 | #128 | 1,824 | 0.1614% |
| 1918 | #128 | 1,827 | 0.1578% |
| 1917 | #140 | 1,545 | 0.1429% |
| 1916 | #138 | 1,505 | 0.1441% |
| 1915 | #154 | 1,233 | 0.1253% |
| 1914 | #164 | 881 | 0.1157% |
| 1913 | #168 | 687 | 0.1100% |
| 1912 | #181 | 545 | 0.0976% |
| 1911 | #189 | 380 | 0.0908% |
| 1910 | #211 | 308 | 0.0777% |
| 1909 | #211 | 272 | 0.0783% |
| 1908 | #227 | 226 | 0.0676% |
| 1907 | #235 | 200 | 0.0628% |
| 1906 | #248 | 173 | 0.0586% |
| 1905 | #300 | 125 | 0.0429% |
| 1904 | #302 | 116 | 0.0421% |
| 1903 | #265 | 134 | 0.0512% |
| 1902 | #308 | 106 | 0.0401% |
| 1901 | #341 | 81 | 0.0338% |
| 1900 | #345 | 94 | 0.0314% |
| 1899 | #326 | 85 | 0.0365% |
| 1898 | #301 | 106 | 0.0410% |
| 1897 | #319 | 83 | 0.0354% |
| 1896 | #376 | 58 | 0.0244% |
| 1895 | #356 | 62 | 0.0265% |
| 1894 | #394 | 52 | 0.0233% |
| 1893 | #352 | 59 | 0.0277% |
| 1892 | #452 | 37 | 0.0174% |
| 1891 | #364 | 47 | 0.0253% |
| 1890 | #424 | 37 | 0.0194% |
| 1889 | #514 | 25 | 0.0140% |
| 1888 | #547 | 22 | 0.0123% |
| 1887 | #411 | 29 | 0.0199% |
| 1886 | #690 | 12 | 0.0083% |
| 1885 | #656 | 12 | 0.0090% |
| 1884 | #681 | 11 | 0.0085% |
| 1883 | #1,048 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1882 | #633 | 10 | 0.0093% |
| 1881 | #825 | 6 | 0.0065% |
| 1880 | #545 | 11 | 0.0121% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | #8,101 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #7,784 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #7,306 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #5,462 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #7,340 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #5,109 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #4,624 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #4,490 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #3,955 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #3,652 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #3,826 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #2,305 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #1,693 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1967 | #1,904 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1966 | #1,648 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1965 | #2,172 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #1,697 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1963 | #1,336 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1962 | #1,803 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #1,436 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1960 | #1,657 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1959 | #1,803 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1958 | #1,720 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #1,749 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #1,720 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,552 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #1,591 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #1,957 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1952 | #1,801 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #2,241 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #1,877 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #2,335 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #2,022 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #4,244 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #1,946 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #1,692 | 17 | 0.0013% |
| 1944 | #1,481 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1943 | #1,632 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1942 | #1,534 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #1,529 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1940 | #1,366 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1939 | #1,708 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1938 | #1,473 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1937 | #1,826 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1936 | #2,446 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1935 | #1,752 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1934 | #1,322 | 27 | 0.0026% |
| 1933 | #1,640 | 19 | 0.0019% |
| 1932 | #1,776 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1931 | #1,455 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #2,076 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #1,561 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1928 | #2,159 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #1,870 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1926 | #2,428 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1925 | #3,396 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #3,247 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1923 | #4,219 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #3,853 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #3,203 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #3,711 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1917 | #3,954 | 6 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Wanda
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Wanda Shapes Your Personality and Life?
To express itself, you must follow the divine law of love. You have great persistence and hate to give up. You are a good mixer, charming, magnetic and intuitive. The spirituality is the key to success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Wanda's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Wanda's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.