Wardell is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from an English surname that was originally an occupational name for a guardian or keeper of the hall, deriving from 'weard', an Old English word meaning guard or ward, combined with the suffix '-elle'. The name Wardell has been used as a first name since the mid-20th century and gained some popularity in the United States during this period. It is often associated with notable individuals such as Wardell Gray, a prominent jazz saxophonist active in the 1940s and 1950s. However, it remains relatively uncommon compared to more traditional names.
The name Wardell experienced varying popularity from 1918 to 1944, with peaks in 1918 and 1942 (each having 8 births) and consistent but lower numbers in the years 1922, 1925, and 1944 (each with 5 births). Overall, there were 36 babies named Wardell during this period.