Baby Boy Names That Begin With W
Unusual & Popular Male Name Choices
From William and Wyatt to Weston and Winston, here's a selection of names for your little boy that start with the letter W.
Looking for a baby boy name that begins with W? With help from the U.S. Social Security Baby Name Index, here are some popular, classic, and unusual choices.
William. William has always been an extremely popular name in the United States, as well as in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada. In America, it finally dropped out of the top 10 in the 1970s, but then it started climbing again and ranked at #10 in 2006. Why the enduring popularity of this name? Perhaps it has to do with nicknames, as William has versatility. For years, Billys and Bills abounded, and these days, parents are using the nickname Liam (the second part of William). William comes from an ancient Germanic name that means "determined protector."
Wyatt. Wyatt is both a Western sounding name and a last-name-turned-first-name, so it's not surprising that this name is becoming trendy, It ranked at #82 in 2006. Wyatt comes from an Old English name that means "war strength."
Wesley. Wesley cracked the top 100 during the 1980s, but fell to #190 in 2006. Wesley comes from an Old English name that means "Western meadow." For something a little different, try Weston.
Walter. Walter was big in the early twentieth century, when Walter Cronkite and Wally Cleaver were born. The name gradually become less common and has fallen out of favor. Parents in search of an old-fashioned name that hasn't become trendy yet might snatch up this classic. Walter comes from an ancient Germanic name that means "commander of the army."
Warren. Warren has always been Walter's less popular younger brother. The name was fairly popular during the 1920s, but isn't used much anymore. Unlike Walter, Warren doesn't have any built-in nicknames ("Warry" just doesn't sound all that upbeat). Warren comes from a Norman French name that means "stockyard."
Walker, Wilson, & Whittaker. If you like the last-name-turned-first-name craze but want a name that isn't overly popular, try out one of these. Walker is from an Old English name that means "clothes washer." Wilson, as you might guess, means "son of William." Whittaker is from an Old English name that means "wheat farm."
Wade & Wayne. These names have a lot to offer-- they're short, strong, a little bit Western, and not the least bit trendy. Wade is from an Old English name that means "able to go." Wayne is from an Old English name that means "wagon builder."
Waylon. Like country names? Here's a classic that isn't used much. Waylon comes from an Old English name that means "roadside land."
Winston. Thanks to Winston Churchill, this unusual name has a strong and historical appeal. Winston comes from an Old English name that means "joyful stone."
Woodrow & Woody. Sadly, the sexual connotations of "woody" might make this name fodder for playground bullies. These names come from an English expression that means "row of house by the woods."
Waldo, Wilmer, & Wilbur. Old-fashioned names are making a comeback, but don't expect to see these clunkers anytime soon.
See also:
Baby Boy Names That Begin With V
