Wellington

Meaning of Wellington

Wellington traces its roots to the Old English place name Weolingtun—“estate by the spring”—a form later Latinized in medieval records. Its most celebrated namesake, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, cemented the name’s global profile with his victory at Waterloo. In the United States today, Wellington remains a rarity—37 boys received the name in 2024, placing it 887th—but its steady appearance in the 800–900 tier over the past decade indicates a persistent, if modest, appeal. The name’s crisp consonant structure and aristocratic legacy attract parents seeking a distinguished, cross-cultural choice; it even surfaces in parts of Latin America as a mark of Anglophone sophistication. Pronounced WEL-ing-tuhn, Wellington balances historical gravitas with contemporary distinctiveness.