Girl names that start with W
These 36 W girl names run from Wafa to Wynonna, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were Willow, Wrenley and Wren.
Wulfhild
Wolf and battle (Old English)
GirlEnglish
Wakana
Young greens (Japanese)
GirlJapanese
Wulfgifu
Wolf and gift (Old English)
GirlEnglish
Willemijn
Resolute protector (Germanic)
GirlDutch
Wulfwynn
Wolf and joy (Old English)
GirlEnglish
Wulfrun
Wolf and secret lore (Old English)
GirlEnglish
Whitney
White island (Old English). No. 1,046 in the US in 2025, 251 babies. Given to both: 95% girls.
UnisexEnglishFalling
Wave
A sea wave (English). No. 3,377 in the US in 2025, 40 babies. Given to both: 13% girls.
UnisexEnglish
Widad
Love, affection (Arabic)
GirlArabic
Wikolia
Victory (Latin)
GirlHawaiian
Most popular girl 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #44 | Willow | 4,763 | Rising | willow tree |
| #159 | Wrenley | 1,858 | Rising | modern elaboration of Wren, the bird, with the suffix ley |
| #231 | Wren | 1,331 | Rising | small brown songbird |
| #358 | Wrenlee | 851 | Steady | – |
| #422 | Willa | 742 | Steady | resolute protector |
| #426 | Winter | 732 | Steady | winter season |
| #457 | Wynter | 676 | Steady | – |
| #475 | Winnie | 646 | Steady | – |
| #627 | Winona | 466 | Steady | – |
| #677 | Whitley | 420 | Steady | – |
| #685 | Wrenleigh | 414 | Steady | – |
| #923 | Winifred | 284 | Steady | – |
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.
Girls
- Share of girls, 2025
- 1.1%
- Place among 26 letters
- 21st
- Different W names
- 152
- In the top 1,000
- 12
Share of girls with a W name: 0.9% in 1950, 0.2% in 2000, and 1.1% in 2025.
W girl names used in many cultures
Names our database lists in the most languages and countries, easy to spell and say in several of them.
- Wilhelminaresolute protector (Germanic)
- Wilmaresolute protector (Germanic)
- Wynnfair, white, blessed (Welsh)
- Wafaloyalty, faithfulness (Arabic)
- Wailaniheavenly water (Hawaiian)
- Wakabayoung leaves (Japanese)
- Wakanayoung greens (Japanese)
- Walburgapower and fortress (Germanic)
- Waltraudpower and strength (Germanic)
- Wangarifrom ngarĩ, leopard (Kikuyu)
- Wardarose (Arabic)
- Wavea sea wave (English)
- Weipower, might, when written 威 (Chinese)
- Wenliterary, cultured (depends on characters) (Chinese)
- Wenkefriend (Germanic)
- Whitneywhite island (Old English)
- Widadlove, affection (Arabic)
- Wiebkewar (Germanic)
Where these names come from
- Old English: 11
- Germanic: 10
- Arabic: 3
- Japanese: 2
- English: 2
- Chinese: 2
- Latin: 2
- Hawaiian: 1
All 36 girl names that start with W
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wafa | loyalty, faithfulness | Arabic | Girl |
| Wailani | heavenly water | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Wakaba | young leaves | Japanese | Girl |
| Wakana | young greens | Japanese | Girl |
| Walburga | power and fortress | Germanic | Girl |
| Waltraud | power and strength | Germanic | Girl |
| Wangari | from ngarĩ, leopard | Kikuyu | Girl |
| Warda | rose | Arabic | Girl |
| Wave | a sea wave | English | Unisex |
| Wei | power, might, when written 威 | Chinese | Unisex |
| Wen | literary, cultured (depends on characters) | Chinese | Unisex |
| Wenke | friend | Germanic | Girl |
| Whitney | white island | Old English | Unisex |
| Widad | love, affection | Arabic | Girl |
| Wiebke | war | Germanic | Girl |
| Wikolia | victory | Latin | Girl |
| Wiktoria | victory, triumph | Latin | Girl |
| Wilhelmina | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Willa | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Willemijn | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Williamina | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Willow | willow tree | Old English | Girl |
| Wilma | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Wiltrud | will and strength | Germanic | Girl |
| Winter | winter season | Old English | Girl |
| Wren | small brown songbird | Old English | Unisex |
| Wren | small songbird | Old English | Girl |
| Wrenley | modern elaboration of Wren, the bird, with the suffix ley | English | Girl |
| Wulfgifu | wolf and gift | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfhild | wolf and battle | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfrun | wolf and secret lore | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfthryth | wolf and strength | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfwynn | wolf and joy | Old English | Girl |
| Wynflæd | joy and beauty | Old English | Girl |
| Wynn | fair, white, blessed | Welsh | Unisex |
| Wynonna | firstborn daughter | Dakota | Girl |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular girl names that start with W?
The most popular girl names starting with W in the US are Willow (#44), Wrenley (#159), Wren (#231), Wrenlee (#358), Willa (#422), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many girl names start with W?
In 2025, 152 different girl names starting with W were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 12 of them were in the top 1,000. This page lists 36 with their meaning and origin.
How common are girl names that start with W?
1.1% of US girls born in 2025 have a name starting with W, making it the 21st most common first letter. In 1950 it was 0.9%.
Where do girl names starting with W come from?
The most common origins on this list are Old English (11), Germanic (10), Arabic (3).