The story behind Wells
From Old English wella, genitive plural of well (“spring”), in reference to a residence near a group of springs. The original use of the genitive case here would've indicated origin. The -s ending of the modern form would be added later on upon reanalysis after the breakdown of the case system (outside of pronouns) that occurred in the development of English.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /wɛlz/
Popularity
Wells ranked #7865 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Wells
Wade
From Old English wæd (“a ford”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Agnes
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἁγνή (Hagnḗ), coming from Ancient Greek ἁγνός (hagnós, “pure, chaste”), Ancient Greek ἁγνεία (hagneía, “purity, chastity”). Doublet of Inez.…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Agnès
From Latin Agnes.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Amreś
Borrowed from Sanskrit अमरेश (amareśa).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Ś
- same syllable count
- similar length
Andres
Patronymic surname, borrowed from Spanish Andrés. a male given name from Spanish, equivalent to English Andrew
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Andrés
Borrowed from Latin Andreās, Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέας (Andréas), compare English Andrew and Italian Andrea. Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέας (Andréas).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Wells
Aethelred
Learned borrowing from Old English Æþelræd, Æðelred, from æþele (“noble”) + rǣd (“counsel, advice”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aldith
From Old English eald (“old”) + gūþ (“battle”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aldous
Short form of Old English compound given names beginning with the element eald (“old”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Wells
Alden
From Old English Ealdwine, from eald (“old”) + wine (“friend”); equivalent to Alwin. In some cases a variant of Haldane.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldith
From Old English eald (“old”) + gūþ (“battle”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aldwyn
From Old English Ealdwine (literally “old friend”)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length