Waverly is an uncommon given name of English origin, derived from the surname Waverley. The surname itself is believed to have originated from a place called Waverley in Scotland, which was mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's historical novel "Waverley." The name is associated with this literary character and has since been used as a first name.
Over the span of nearly a century and a half (from 1881 to 2021), the name Waverly experienced significant fluctuations in popularity as indicated by birth records. The highest peak occurred in 1924 with 40 births, while the lowest was recorded in several years, notably 1882 and 1883 with no births registered at all. Despite these fluctuations, Waverly remained relatively steady throughout much of the late 19th to mid-20th century, with an average of around 15 births per year from 1914 to 1967. However, in recent decades (since approximately 1990), the name has seen a decline in popularity, with an average of fewer than 7 births per year since then.