Boy names that start with W
These 61 W boy names run from Wacław to Wystan, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were William, Wyatt and Wesley.
Wei
Great; mighty (depends on characters) (Chinese). No. 10,614 in the US in 2025, 7 babies.
BoyChinese
Guardian, watchman (Old English). No. 2,877 in the US in 2025, 44 babies. Given to both: 24% girls.
BoyEnglish
Walt
Ruler of the army (Germanic). No. 3,376 in the US in 2025, 35 babies.
BoyEnglish
Wacław
More glory (Slavic)
BoyPolish
Willibald
Bold will (Germanic)
BoyGerman
Waldemar
Famous ruler (Germanic). No. 13,790 in the US in 2025, 5 babies.
BoyGerman
Wave
A sea wave (English). No. 3,377 in the US in 2025, 40 babies. Given to both: 13% girls.
UnisexEnglish
Wystan
Battle stone (Old English)
BoyEnglish
Wulfnoth
Wolf and boldness (Old English)
BoyEnglish
Most popular boy names starting with W in 2025
Ranked by the number of US babies given each name. Each spelling is counted on its own.
| US rank | Name | Babies | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 | William | 10,545 | Falling | resolute protector |
| #38 | Wyatt | 6,480 | Steady | brave in war |
| #52 | Wesley | 5,578 | Rising | west meadow |
| #55 | Weston | 5,482 | Rising | west town |
| #56 | Waylon | 5,408 | Rising | variant of Wayland, probably from craft, cunning |
| #78 | Walker | 4,204 | Rising | cloth fuller |
| #240 | Warren | 1,471 | Rising | from a surname meaning animal enclosure |
| #252 | Walter | 1,381 | Steady | ruler of the army |
| #344 | Wade | 948 | Steady | – |
| #347 | Wells | 944 | Steady | – |
| #382 | Winston | 830 | Steady | – |
| #431 | Wilder | 743 | Rising | untamed |
| #619 | Westley | 453 | Steady | – |
| #655 | Wayne | 422 | Steady | wagon maker or driver |
| #671 | Wylder | 407 | Steady | – |
| #673 | Wilson | 405 | Steady | – |
| #689 | Westin | 396 | Steady | – |
| #716 | Wes | 376 | Steady | – |
| #724 | Westyn | 371 | Steady | – |
| #849 | Waylen | 289 | Steady | – |
| #919 | Wesson | 257 | Steady | – |
| #964 | Wallace | 241 | Steady | foreigner, Welshman |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 2025. Trend compares the rank with ten years earlier.
W names by the numbers
How many US babies get a name starting with W, counted from Social Security records of names given to at least 5 babies.
Boys
- Share of boys, 2025
- 3.1%
- Place among 26 letters
- 14th
- Different W names
- 214
- In the top 1,000
- 22
Share of boys with a W name: 5.5% in 1950, 1.8% in 2000, and 3.1% in 2025.
W boy names used in many cultures
Names our database lists in the most languages and countries, easy to spell and say in several of them.
- Williamresolute protector (Germanic)
- Wallaceforeigner, Welshman (Old French)
- Walterruler of the army (Germanic)
- Wenceslasmore glory (Slavic)
- Wolffrom the animal (Germanic)
- Wynnfair, white, blessed (Welsh)
- Wacławmore glory (Slavic)
- Wagnerwagon maker (German)
- Waldemarfamous ruler (Germanic)
- Walidnewborn child (Arabic)
- Walkercloth fuller (English)
- Waltruler of the army (Germanic)
- Wamaneagle, falcon (Quechua)
- Wardguardian, watchman (Old English)
- Warrenfrom a surname meaning animal enclosure (Norman French)
- Waswafirst-born of twin boys (Luganda)
- Wataruto wade across, ford (depends on kanji) (Japanese)
- Wavea sea wave (English)
Where these names come from
- Germanic: 18
- Old English: 17
- Slavic: 5
- English: 4
- Quechua: 3
- Chinese: 3
- Latin: 2
- German: 1
All 61 boy names that start with W
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wacław | more glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Wagner | wagon maker | German | Boy |
| Waldemar | famous ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Walid | newborn child | Arabic | Boy |
| Walker | cloth fuller | English | Boy |
| Wallace | foreigner, Welshman | Old French | Boy |
| Walt | ruler of the army | Germanic | Boy |
| Walter | ruler of the army | Germanic | Boy |
| Waman | eagle, falcon | Quechua | Boy |
| Ward | guardian, watchman | Old English | Boy |
| Warren | from a surname meaning animal enclosure | Norman French | Boy |
| Waswa | first-born of twin boys | Luganda | Boy |
| Wataru | to wade across, ford (depends on kanji) | Japanese | Boy |
| Wave | a sea wave | English | Unisex |
| Wawrzyniec | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Waylon | variant of Wayland, probably from craft, cunning | Old English | Boy |
| Wayna | young boy | Quechua | Boy |
| Wayne | wagon maker or driver | Old English | Boy |
| Wayra | wind, air | Quechua | Boy |
| Wei | great; mighty (depends on characters) | Chinese | Boy |
| Wei | power, might, when written 威 | Chinese | Unisex |
| Wen | literary, cultured (depends on characters) | Chinese | Unisex |
| Wenceslao | more glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Wenceslas | more glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Werner | army guard | Germanic | Boy |
| Wesley | west meadow | Old English | Boy |
| Weston | west town | Old English | Boy |
| Whitney | white island | Old English | Unisex |
| Wigand | warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Wiktor | the conqueror | Latin | Boy |
| Wilder | untamed | English | Boy |
| Wilfred | desiring peace | Old English | Boy |
| Wilfredo | desiring peace | Old English | Boy |
| Wilhelm | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Will | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Willem | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Willi | will and helmet | Germanic | Boy |
| William | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Willibald | bold will | Germanic | Boy |
| Willie | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Willis | son of Will | English | Boy |
| Willka | the sun | Aymara | Boy |
| Winfried | friend and peace | Germanic | Boy |
| Władysław | ruling with glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Wojciech | joyful warrior | Slavic | Boy |
| Wolf | from the animal | Germanic | Boy |
| Wolfgang | wolf path | Germanic | Boy |
| Wolfhard | wolf and brave | Germanic | Boy |
| Wolfram | wolf raven | Germanic | Boy |
| Woodrow | row of houses by a wood | Old English | Boy |
| Wouter | ruler of the army | Germanic | Boy |
| Wren | small brown songbird | Old English | Unisex |
| Wulfhere | wolf army | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfila | little wolf | Gothic | Boy |
| Wulfnoth | wolf and boldness | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfric | wolf ruler | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfsige | wolf and victory | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfstan | wolf stone | Old English | Boy |
| Wyatt | brave in war | Old English | Boy |
| Wynn | fair, white, blessed | Welsh | Unisex |
| Wystan | battle stone | Old English | Boy |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular boy names that start with W?
The most popular boy names starting with W in the US are William (#9), Wyatt (#38), Wesley (#52), Weston (#55), Waylon (#56), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many boy names start with W?
In 2025, 214 different boy names starting with W were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 22 of them were in the top 1,000. This page lists 61 with their meaning and origin.
How common are boy names that start with W?
3.1% of US boys born in 2025 have a name starting with W, making it the 14th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 5.5%.
Where do boy names starting with W come from?
The most common origins on this list are Germanic (18), Old English (17), Slavic (5).