Fun Facts About the Name Watts
- 81 babies named Watts: U.S. records list 81 babies given the name Watts from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Watts Mean?
Watts is an English patronymic surname meaning "son of Wat." It comes from the Middle English personal name Wat, a familiar short form of Walter, plus the ending -s, which in surnames marks a son or descendant. Walter goes back to a Germanic name built from wald "rule" and heri "army"; that older name is commonly translated "ruler of the army."
The literal meaning of Watts is genealogical: it identifies someone as Wat's son. The "ruler of the army" sense belongs to Walter and reaches Watts only through the short form Wat. As a first name, Watts is a transferred use of the surname, not a traditional English given name.
Watts Name History & Origins
The surname developed in medieval England, where Wat was one of the common everyday forms of Walter. Walter had come to England with the Normans and became a frequent personal name. The pattern behind Watts was widespread: a familiar personal name plus -s produced family names such as Williams, Harris, and Watts. The surname is found in English records from the Middle Ages onward, and its spelling varied before modern standardization.
Watts remains chiefly a family name. Its use as a first name is a transferred-surname practice, not the survival of an Old English given name. The surname is familiar from figures such as the hymn writer Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748), the painter George Frederic Watts (1817 - 1904), and the drummer Charlie Watts (1941 - 2021); these are bearers of the surname, not evidence that the first name was common.
How Popular is the Name Watts?
Watts has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #3,248 in 1914.
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 | #11,908 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #6,862 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2022 | #9,770 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #8,769 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #8,788 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #10,570 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #8,274 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,233 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1918 | #3,361 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1914 | #3,248 | 6 | 0.0009% |
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.
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How the Name Watts 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 always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Watts's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Watts's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.