Washington
Washington: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɑʃɪŋtən/ · /ˈwɔʃɪŋtən/
Meaning and origin of Washington
Root meaning: “belonging to”
- A male given name transferred from the surname, popular during the first century of American independence, given in honor of George Washington.
Etymology
Washington (the town in Tyne and Wear, northeast England): probably from the Old English place name Hwæssingatūn (literally “a settlement of the household of *Hwæssa”), from *Hwæssa (a Saxon chieftain's name) + -ing (“belonging to”) + tūn (“homestead, settlement”). It was attested in 1096 as Wasindone. *Hwæssa is of uncertain origin, said to possibly correspond to waþ (“hunt”) + sige (“victory”), or possibly related to hwæte (“wheat”). There are other theories; more on Wikipedia. The surname derives from the town, and most places in the United States are named for George Washington.
How popular is Washington?
Since 1880, 2,644 boys in the U.S. have been named Washington. Its highest rank for boys was #329 in 1884. Fewer than 5 babies per sex were given the name in 2025, so it does not appear in that year's SSA data.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Washington
Sister and brother names that share Washington's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Washington FAQ
What does the name Washington mean?
Washington traces back to a root meaning "belonging to". A male given name transferred from the surname, popular during the first century of American independence, given in honor of George Washington. Washington (the town in Tyne and Wear, northeast England): probably from the Old English place name Hwæssingatūn (literally “a settlement of the household of *Hwæssa”), from *Hwæssa (a Saxon chieftain's name) + -ing (“belonging to”) + tūn (“homestead, settlement”). It was attested in 1096 as Wasindone. *Hwæssa is of uncertain origin, said to possibly correspond to waþ (“hunt”) + sige (“victory”), or possibly related to hwæte (“wheat”). There are other theories; more on Wikipedia. The surname derives from the town, and most places in the United States are named for George Washington.
What is the origin of the name Washington?
Washington is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Washington?
Since 1880, 2,644 boys in the U.S. have been named Washington. Its highest rank for boys was #329 in 1884. Fewer than 5 babies per sex were given the name in 2025, so it does not appear in that year's SSA data.
Is Washington a boy or girl name?
Washington is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 0 girls and 2,644 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.