Wayde is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin, derived from an Old English surname 'Waida', which was originally a personal name meaning 'guide'. It gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century. Wayde is also associated with the South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, who won gold in the 400 meters at the Rio Olympics in 2016. The name's uniqueness offers an appealing choice for parents seeking a memorable name for their child.
The name Wayde experienced a significant boom in popularity starting from the late 1950s, with a steep increase from 1957 to 1960. The peak was reached in 1958 with 153 births, followed by another high of 252 births in 1959. However, after these peaks, the number of Wayde births began to decline steadily, reaching a low point around the mid-1970s with single-digit numbers each year. The name has seen some fluctuations since then but has generally remained relatively uncommon, with fewer than 50 births per year in recent years, except for a spike in 2019 with 62 births and another notable increase to 45 births in 2022. In total, there have been 2223 Wayde births recorded between 1915 and 2023.