Names that start with W
These 89 W 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.
Wigand
Warrior (Germanic)
BoyGerman
Wouter
Ruler of the army (Germanic)
BoyDutch
Wulfsige
Wolf and victory (Old English)
BoyEnglish
Wolf
From the animal (Germanic). No. 1,902 in the US in 2025, 83 babies.
BoyGerman
Wulfnoth
Wolf and boldness (Old English)
BoyEnglish
Wojciech
Joyful warrior (Slavic)
BoyPolish
Willem
Resolute protector (Germanic). No. 2,601 in the US in 2025, 51 babies.
BoyDutch
Wataru
To wade across, ford (depends on kanji) (Japanese)
BoyJapanese
Woodrow
Row of houses by a wood (Old English). No. 1,653 in the US in 2025, 102 babies.
BoyEnglish
Wiktoria
Victory, triumph (Latin). No. 14,832 in the US in 2025, 6 babies.
GirlPolish
Most popular 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 | For | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 | William | 10,545 | Boys | Falling | resolute protector |
| #38 | Wyatt | 6,480 | Boys | Steady | brave in war |
| #52 | Wesley | 5,578 | Boys | Rising | west meadow |
| #55 | Weston | 5,482 | Boys | Rising | west town |
| #56 | Waylon | 5,408 | Boys | Rising | variant of Wayland, probably from craft, cunning |
| #44 | Willow | 4,763 | Girls | Rising | willow tree |
| #78 | Walker | 4,204 | Boys | Rising | cloth fuller |
| #159 | Wrenley | 1,858 | Girls | Rising | modern elaboration of Wren, the bird, with the suffix ley |
| #240 | Warren | 1,471 | Boys | Rising | from a surname meaning animal enclosure |
| #252 | Walter | 1,381 | Boys | Steady | ruler of the army |
| #231 | Wren | 1,331 | Girls | Rising | small brown songbird |
| #344 | Wade | 948 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #347 | Wells | 944 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #358 | Wrenlee | 851 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #382 | Winston | 830 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #431 | Wilder | 743 | Boys | Rising | untamed |
| #422 | Willa | 742 | Girls | Steady | resolute protector |
| #426 | Winter | 732 | Girls | Steady | winter season |
| #457 | Wynter | 676 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #475 | Winnie | 646 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #627 | Winona | 466 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #619 | Westley | 453 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #655 | Wayne | 422 | Boys | Steady | wagon maker or driver |
| #677 | Whitley | 420 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #685 | Wrenleigh | 414 | Girls | 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.
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 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)
- Williamresolute protector (Germanic)
- Wilmaresolute 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)
- Wafaloyalty, faithfulness (Arabic)
- Wagnerwagon maker (German)
- Wailaniheavenly water (Hawaiian)
- Wakabayoung leaves (Japanese)
- Wakanayoung greens (Japanese)
- Walburgapower and fortress (Germanic)
- Waldemarfamous ruler (Germanic)
- Walidnewborn child (Arabic)
- Walkercloth fuller (English)
Where these names come from
- Germanic: 28
- Old English: 25
- Slavic: 5
- English: 5
- Arabic: 4
- Latin: 4
- Japanese: 3
- Quechua: 3
All 89 names that start with W
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wacław | more glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Wafa | loyalty, faithfulness | Arabic | Girl |
| Wagner | wagon maker | German | Boy |
| Wailani | heavenly water | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Wakaba | young leaves | Japanese | Girl |
| Wakana | young greens | Japanese | Girl |
| Walburga | power and fortress | Germanic | Girl |
| 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 |
| Waltraud | power and strength | Germanic | Girl |
| Waman | eagle, falcon | Quechua | Boy |
| Wangari | from ngarĩ, leopard | Kikuyu | Girl |
| Ward | guardian, watchman | Old English | Boy |
| Warda | rose | Arabic | Girl |
| 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 | Unisex |
| Wen | literary, cultured (depends on characters) | Chinese | Unisex |
| Wenceslao | more glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Wenceslas | more glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Wenke | friend | Germanic | Girl |
| Werner | army guard | Germanic | Boy |
| Wesley | west meadow | Old English | Boy |
| Weston | west town | Old English | Boy |
| Whitney | white island | Old English | Unisex |
| Widad | love, affection | Arabic | Girl |
| Wiebke | war | Germanic | Girl |
| Wigand | warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Wikolia | victory | Latin | Girl |
| Wiktor | the conqueror | Latin | Boy |
| Wiktoria | victory, triumph | Latin | Girl |
| Wilder | untamed | English | Boy |
| Wilfred | desiring peace | Old English | Boy |
| Wilfredo | desiring peace | Old English | Boy |
| Wilhelm | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Wilhelmina | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Will | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Willa | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Willem | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Willemijn | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Willi | will and helmet | Germanic | Boy |
| William | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Williamina | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Willibald | bold will | Germanic | Boy |
| Willie | resolute protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Willis | son of Will | English | Boy |
| Willka | the sun | Aymara | Boy |
| Willow | willow tree | Old English | Girl |
| Wilma | resolute protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Wiltrud | will and strength | Germanic | Girl |
| Winfried | friend and peace | Germanic | Boy |
| Winter | winter season | Old English | Girl |
| 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 |
| Wrenley | modern elaboration of Wren, the bird, with the suffix ley | English | Girl |
| Wulfgifu | wolf and gift | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfhere | wolf army | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfhild | wolf and battle | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfila | little wolf | Gothic | Boy |
| Wulfnoth | wolf and boldness | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfric | wolf ruler | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfrun | wolf and secret lore | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfsige | wolf and victory | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfstan | wolf stone | Old English | Boy |
| Wulfthryth | wolf and strength | Old English | Girl |
| Wulfwynn | wolf and joy | Old English | Girl |
| Wyatt | brave in war | Old English | Boy |
| Wynflæd | joy and beauty | Old English | Girl |
| Wynn | fair, white, blessed | Welsh | Unisex |
| Wynonna | firstborn daughter | Dakota | Girl |
| Wystan | battle stone | Old English | Boy |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular names that start with W?
The most popular names starting with W in the US are William (#9 for boys), Wyatt (#38 for boys), Wesley (#52 for boys), Weston (#55 for boys), Waylon (#56 for boys), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many 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. 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 89 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%.
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 names starting with W come from?
The most common origins on this list are Germanic (28), Old English (25), Slavic (5).