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Learn the meaning and origins of popular baby names that start with "W"
ByHedy Phillips
Updated on August 16, 2023
Fact checked byMarley Hall
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Naming your children by letter is a unique way to keep your family in a theme. Whether you pick the letter for a specific reason—perhaps to make everyone match—or you want your children to have a particular set of initials, choosing the letter is the first step of the process.
Names that start with "W" run the gamut from unique to popular and include everything in between. You'll find just about anything your family requires and can keep your children on trend and on theme. Find the origins and meanings of popular names that start with "W."
50 Norwegian Baby Names
Wade
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Traveler by the Ford
- Famous Namesakes: Actor Wade Williams is one of the famous people with this first name, but you may also see it as a last name, like former NBA player Dwyane Wade.
- Peak Popularity: Wade reached its most popular point in the U.S. in 1966.
Wagner
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Wagon maker
- Famous Namesakes: Wagner is commonly seen as a last name, like with actors Robert Wagner and Jack Wagner.
- Peak Popularity: Wagner has not yet appeared on the popular baby names list in the U.S.
Walker
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Fuller of cloth
- Famous Namesakes: Walker is another name commonly used as a surname, like actor Paul Walker.
- Peak Popularity: Walker was a popular name in the early 1900s but has seen a huge burst in popularity recently. It reached its peak in 2021.
Wanda
- Origin:Polish
- Meaning: A slender, young tree
- Famous Namesakes: Comedian Wanda Sykes is one of the most famous people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: According to the Social Security Administration, Wanda was a popular name in the 1930s.
Wardah
- Origin:Arabic
- Meaning: Rose
- Peak Popularity: Wardah has not yet appeared on the popular baby names list in the U.S.
Watson
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Son of Walter
- Famous Namesakes: You might see Watson as a last name, like with actress Emma Watson.
- Peak Popularity: Watson was a popular first name in the early 1900s.
Waverly
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the Brushwood Field
- Peak Popularity: Waverly reached its highest point on the U.S. name list in 2020.
Waylon
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Land by the road
- Famous Namesakes: Country singer Waylon Jennings is one of the most famous people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Waylon has seen a lot of popularity in the 2000s. In fact, it reached its peak in 2021.
Wednesday
- Origin:American
- Meaning: Born on Wednesday
- Famous Namesakes: Fictional character Wednesday Addams is one of the most well-known uses of this name.
- Peak Popularity: Wednesday doesn't appear on the popular baby names list in the U.S.
Wendy
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Friend
- Famous Namesakes: Talk show host Wendy Williams is a popular person with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Wendy was a popular name in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s.
Wentworth
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Village
- Famous Namesakes: Actor Wentworth Miller is one of the most well-known people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Wentworth hasn't yet cracked the top baby names list in the United States.
Weronika
- Origin:Polish
- Meaning: True image
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Veronica, Veronika
- Peak Popularity: Weronika has not appeared on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Wes
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the West Field
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wesley, Weston
- Famous Namesakes: Late director Wes Craven is one of the most well-known people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Wes reached its peak in the U.S. in 1963.
Wesley
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the West Field
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wes, Westley
- Famous Namesakes: Actor Wesley Snipes is one of the most famous people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Wesley peaked in 1977 but has seen a new surge of popularity recently.
Weston
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the West Town
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wes
- Peak Popularity: Weston was most popular in 2021.
Whitney
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the White Island
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Witney
- Famous Namesakes: Late singer Whitney Houston is one of the most famous people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Whitney was a popular name in the 1980s and 1990s.
Wilder
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Wild animal
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wylder
- Peak Popularity: Wilder has been growing in popularity since 2015.
Wilhelmina
- Origin:German
- Meaning: Will and desire
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Willa
- Peak Popularity: Wilhelmina was a popular name in the early 1900s in the U.S.
Willa
- Origin:American
- Meaning: With gilded helmet
- Famous Namesakes: Author Willa Cather and singer Willa Ford
- Peak Popularity: Willa reached its most popular point in 1932.
William
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Will and desire
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Will, Bill
- Famous Namesakes: William is a popular name shared by the likes of Prince William, William Shakespeare, and Billy Joel.
- Peak Popularity: William has always been a popular name, spending several years in the early 1900s at the No. 2 spot.
Willis
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Descendant
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Will
- Famous Namesakes: You may see Willis more commonly as a last name, like Bruce Willis.
- Peak Popularity: Willis was most popular in 1919 in the U.S.
Willow
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the Willow Grove
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Willow Smith is one of the most famous people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Willow continues to grow in popularity, reaching its peak so far in 2021.
Wilson
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Son of William
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Will
- Peak Popularity: The name Wilson reached its peak popularity in 1918.
Winnie
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Peace friend
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Winifred
- Famous Namesakes: Model Winnie Harlow is one of the most well-known people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Winnie was a popular name in the early 1900s.
Winona
- Origin:Native American
- Meaning: First born
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wynona
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Winona Ryder is one of the most famous people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Winona's most popular year was in 1931.
Wolf
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Wolf
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wolfe
- Famous Namesakes: Journalist Wolf Blitzer is one of the most well-known people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Wolf does not yet appear on the popular baby names list.
Wren
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Small bird
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ren
- Peak Popularity: Wren is a new trendy name, seeing its most popular position in 2021.
Wyatt
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Son of Guy
- Peak Popularity: In the U.S., Wyatt was a popular name during the 2000s.
Wycliff
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the cliff by the bend
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wyclef, Wycliffe
- Peak Popularity: Wycliff hasn't appeared on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Wylie
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the Tricky River
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wiley
- Peak Popularity: Wylie peaked in popularity in 1909 in the U.S.
Wynn
- Origin:Welsh
- Meaning: Blessed
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Wynne
- Peak Popularity: Wynn hasn't appeared on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
300 Popular Baby Names by Syllable Count
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Social security administration.Popular baby names.
