Boy Names That Start with W

Choosing a name for a baby can be both exciting and challenging. If you are searching for boy names that start with the letter “W,” many options range from popular to rare and unique.

Whether you want a traditional name or an international one, there are plenty of choices to consider.

Let’s explore some interesting “W” names and their meanings to help you select the perfect name for your little one.

Below are some options that might catch your interest:

Popular Boy Names That Start With W

William

William holds the top spot for boy names starting with W in the United States. This name has consistently remained in the top 20 rankings since 1880.

It originates from the Germanic name Willahelm, which translates to “will helmet.”

The Normans brought it to Britain. Notable figures include William the Conqueror, British kings and princes, playwright William Shakespeare, Swiss hero William Tell, and American actor William Shatner.

Wyatt

Wyatt is derived from an English surname with Old English roots. It means “battle” and “brave,” making it a strong choice.

This name enjoys popularity due to its historical and cultural appeal.

Wesley

Wesley translates to “west meadow” in Old English. It started as a place name and then became a surname.

Over time, it also became a first name, notably linked to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. American actor Wesley Snipes is a well-known figure with this name.

Waylon

Waylon is a variant of Wayland and may come from the Germanic word wela, which means “skilled” or “artful.”

Country music singer Waylon Jennings contributed to the name’s popularity.

Weston

Weston, like many names, originated from an English place name. It means “west” and “enclosure” in Old English.

The name is associated with American soccer player Weston McKennie, highlighting its modern appeal.

Walker

Walker was originally a surname associated with the medieval occupation related to wool processing.

Its meaning comes from the Old English word for “to walk.” This name gained visibility through Chuck Norris’s TV series Walker, Texas Ranger.

Walter

Walter is a Germanic name meaning “ruler of the army.” The Normans brought it to England.

Famous individuals include English courtier Sir Walter Raleigh, Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, and Breaking Bad character Walter White.

Wade

Wade is based on an English surname. It draws roots from the Old English term meaning “a ford” or “to go.”

The simplicity and versatility of this name make it an appealing choice.

Warren

Warren, an English surname, has origins in the Norman French word warrene, meaning “animal enclosure.”

Notable figures with this name include Warren G. Harding, the twenty-ninth US President, and businessman Warren Buffett.

Winston

Winston is a name that many recognize due to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It originates from an English surname and combines the Old English elements for “joy” and “stone.”

George Orwell’s novel 1984 features protagonist Winston Smith, adding literary significance to the name.

Unique Boy Names That Start With W

Wael

This Arabic name translates to “refuge” or “shelter.”

Wahunsenacawh

Originating from the Powhatan people, the meaning of this name remains unknown. It was the name of a seventeenth-century chief.

Walchelin

Derived from the ancient Germanic form of Vauquelin, this name means “foreign.”

Wasyl

This name comes from the western part of Ukraine near the Polish border. It’s the Polish form of Vasyl, meaning “king.”

Wawrzyniec

Pronounced “vav-zhi-nyehts,” this is the Polish form of Laurence, which means “from Laurentum,” a city in ancient Italy.

Wendel

A German and Dutch name that comes from the word wandal, meaning “a vandal.” It may also mean “wanderer,” as the Vandals were a nomadic tribe.

Werther

This name combines elements meaning “worthy” and “army.” It is known from Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Wessel

A Dutch and Frisian name, Wessel is a diminutive of Werner, which means “guard” or “army.”

Willibald

Derived from Germanic elements meaning “will,” “desire,” and “bold.”

Saint Willibald and composer Christoph Willibald Gluck are notable bearers of this name.

Wystan

An English name from Old English elements meaning “battle” and “stone.” It was the name of a ninth-century saint and poet W.H. Auden.

Cool Boy Names That Start With W

Walganus

Walganus is a unique variant of Gualguainus, the Latin name for Gawain, an Arthurian knight known for his battle with the Green Knight.

Wallace

Wallace originates from an English and Scottish surname. It traces back to the Norman French word waleis, meaning “foreigner,” “Celt,” or “Welshman.”

Famous bearer: Sir William Wallace, the Scottish hero who fought against the English in the thirteenth century.

Wangchuk

Wangchuk means “mighty” in Tibetan and is also the Tibetan name for the god Shiva.

Wawatam

Likely meaning “little goose” in Ojibwe, Wawatam was the name of an eighteenth-century chief of the Ottawa people.

Widukind

This name comes from the Germanic words meaning “wood” and “child.”

Wilder

Wilder is derived from an English surname meaning “wild,” “untamed,” or “uncontrolled” in Old English.

A notable figure with this surname is American actor Gene Wilder.

Wilhelm

The German form of William, Wilhelm, was the name for two German emperors.

It is also the middle name of several German philosophers like Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, and Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz.

Wojciech

Wojciech, pronounced “Voi-chekh,” is a Polish name rooted in Slavic words meaning “warrior” or “soldier” and “solace,” “comfort,” or “joy.”

Wolfgang

This German name combines the words wulf, meaning “wolf,” and gang, meaning “path.”

Well-known people with this name include Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Wotan

Wotan is a variant of Wodan, the Germanic name for the Norse god Odin.

This name was popularized by German composer Richard Wagner in his opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen.

International W Boy Names

Wacław

This is the Polish form of Václav, which comes from the Slavic elements meaning “more” and “glory.”

Wálter

This name is common in South America and is the Spanish and Portuguese variant of Walter.

Wanyonyi

This name means “born during the weeding season” in Luhya, a language spoken in western Kenya.

Wassily

This Russian name is an alternative transcription of Vasiliy, which is the Russian form of Basil, meaning “king.”

Russian abstract painter and art theorist Wassily Kandinsky is a famous bearer of this name.

Wattana

Wattana means “development” in Thai.

Wayan

Wayan comes from the word wayah, which means “old” or “mature” in Balinese.

It also relates to a Sanskrit word meaning “energy,” “strength,” and “age.” This name is traditionally given to a first-born child.

Willem

This is the Dutch form of William.

Willem the Silent, Prince of Orange, the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spain and the founder of the Dutch royal family, is a famous historical figure with this name. Today, American actor Willem Defoe might be more recognizable!

Winoc

This Breton name is a variant of Gwenneg, which combines gwenn, meaning “white,” “fair,” or “blessed,” with a diminutive suffix.

Wira

Wira means “hero” in Indonesian and Malay.

Wolodymyr

This is an alternative transcription of the Ukrainian name Volodymyr, which comes from the Slavic elements meaning “rule” and “great.”

Cute Boy Names That Start With W

Waldo

Waldo comes from the Anglo-Scandinavian name Waltheof or the Germanic name meaning “rule.”

These days, it’s often given in honor of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet and author. Waldo is also the star of the Where’s Waldo children’s book series.

Wally

Wally is a nicknamed form of Walter or Wallace. Walter means “ruler of the army,” while Wallace means “foreigner,” “Celt,” or “Welshman.”

Wido

Wido is short for names starting with the Germanic element witu, which means “wood,” or wit, meaning “wide.”

Wilbur

Wilbur originates from the Middle English term for “wild boar” and later became a surname.

It’s featured in E.B. White’s book Charlotte’s Web. Notable people include Wilbur Wright of the Wright brothers and writer Wilbur Smith.

Wiley

Wiley is derived from a surname connected to English place names, like the towns of Willey or the River Wylye.

Wilkie

Wilkie comes from an English surname that has roots in a diminutive form of the name William.

An example of this name is English novelist Wilkie Collins.

Wilton

Wilton comes from a surname linked to several towns in England. The name might mean “willow town,” “well town,” or “town on the River Wylye” in Old English.

Wobbe

Wobbe is a variant of the name Wob, a Frisian nickname of Germanic names starting with the element wald, which means “rule.”

Woody

Woody is a diminutive form of Woodrow, a surname meaning “row of houses by a wood,” or a nickname from the English word wood. Woody is also the name of the toy cowboy in Pixar’s Toy Story movies.

Short W Names for Boys

Walt

This is the short form of Walter and became famous with American animator and filmmaker Walt Disney.

Wat

Wat is the medieval short form of Walter, which means “ruler of the army.”

Wazo

This was originally a short form used for Germanic names beginning with wad, which means “to go,” or warin, meaning “guard” or “protect.”

Wei

Wei is a transcription from various Chinese characters, so there are several different meanings.

It could either mean “power” and “pomp” or “high,” “loft,” and “towering.”

It could also mean “great,” “robust,” or “extraordinary.”

Wil

This is a short form of William. One notable figure with this name is Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Wil Wheaton.

Wilf

Wilf is the adorable short form of Wilfred, an English name meaning “desiring peace.”

Wilt

This is the short form of Wilton and was borne by basketball player Wilt Chamberlain.

Wim

Wim is the Dutch short form of Willem.

It’s perhaps best known for Dutch “Iceman” Wim Hof, the man who made cold showers and ice baths popular.

Wu

Wu can mean “military,” “martial,” or “affairs,” “business.”

It was used by several Chinese rulers, including the emperor Wu of Han, who lived in the second century, expanded the empire, and made Confucianism the state philosophy.

Wyot

This is the Middle English form of Wigheard, which means “battle,” “brave,” and “hardy.”

Strong and Powerful Boy Names Starting With W

Waldemar

Waldemar finds its roots in the Germanic form of the Slavic name Vladimir.

The name means “rule,” “great,” and “famous.”

It arrived in Scandinavia with the Danish king Waldemar in the twelfth century, influenced by his relation to a royal ancestor through his Ukrainian mother.

Wapasha

Wapasha is a name of Dakota origins that translates to “red leaf.”

This name was carried by several Dakota chiefs throughout history.

Warwick

Warwick’s origins lie in Old English, where it signifies “weir,” “dam,” and “settlement.”

Initially, the name referred to a town in England, but later transformed into a surname and then a given name.

American actor Warwick Davis is a notable bearer of this name.

Washington

Washington is a name derived from an English town name meaning “settlement belonging to Wassa’s people.”

It is more famously known as the capital of the United States, Washington DC.

Initially used as a surname, it became well-known through George Washington, the first president of the United States, and is now used as a first name.

Wayne

Wayne has its roots in Old English, translating to “wagon maker.”

Originating as an occupational surname, it later became popular as a first name.

Famous individuals with this name include actor John Wayne, Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky, and English soccer manager Wayne Rooney.

Wenceslaus

Wenceslaus is the medieval Latin form of Veceslav, stemming from Slavic words meaning “more” and “glory.”

The name was borne by several Bohemian kings and is also well-known due to Saint Wenceslaus, the inspiration behind the Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas.”

Werner

Werner is a name with Germanic origins, derived from warin, meaning “guard,” and hari, meaning “army.”

A notable figure with this name is German physicist Werner Heisenberg.

Wickaninnish

Wickaninnish possibly means “having no one in front of him in the canoe” in Nuu-chah-nulth.

The name was also borne by a chief of the Clayoquot in the late eighteenth century.

Wieland

The meaning of Wieland is uncertain but might originate from the Germanic element wela, meaning “skilled” or “artful.”

In Germanic mythology, Wieland was known as an unequaled smith and craftsman.

Wilfred

Wilfred means “desiring peace” in Old English.

Although the name saw popularity during the time of the Norman Conquest, it fell out of fashion until the nineteenth century.

A well-known figure with this name is English poet Wilfred Owen.

Even More W Names for Boys

Waldhar

A name with roots tracing back to ancient times, Waldhar holds a strong, traditional feel.

Waldomar

With a majestic sound, Waldomar is a striking choice often associated with power.

Walerian

Walerian offers a unique twist on more common names, adding a touch of the uncommon.

Walherich

Perfect for those seeking something highly distinct, Walherich stands out.

Wallis

Wallis brings a touch of elegance while being straightforward and easy to say.

Walther

Walther presents a historical charm that’s both timeless and sturdy.

Wambdi

Wambdi is an intriguing name, often linked to cultural heritage and depth.

Wambli

With its melodic sound, Wambli offers uniqueness and poetic quality.

Wandal

Wandal feels bold and timeless, holding up well through the ages.

Waramunt

Waramunt carries a powerful presence, often associated with strong-willed individuals.

Warinhari

A name that combines gentleness and strength, Warinhari is distinctive.

Warrick

Warrick conveys a sense of princely elegance and nobility.

Wate

Wate is short and effective, giving a feel of simplicity.

Watse

Watse has an endearing and approachable quality.

Webster

Webster carries an air of intelligence and classic appeal.

Weldon

A solid and reliable name, Weldon feels familiar and trustworthy.

Wenceslas

Wenceslas offers a regal and historical touch, known for its stately ring.

Wenzel

Wenzel is a name with a lively character, bursting with personality.

Westley

Westley has a charming and approachable feel, evoking thoughts of old-world charm.

Whitaker

Whitaker feels scholarly and refined, perfect for someone who stands out.

Whitney

Whitney strikes a balance between grace and strength, suitable for any personality.

Widald

Widald is unusual and distinctive, suited for someone who wants to be unique.

Wiegand

A name with a heritage-rich feel, Wiegand is both classic and uncommon.

Wighard

Wighard carries an air of steadfastness, being both old-fashioned and strong.

Wigmar

Wigmar sounds bold and venturesome, ideal for someone prepared to take on challenges.

Wilburn

Wilburn offers an old-world charm with a touch of modernity.

Wiley

Wiley feels playful and sharp, fitting for an energetic person.

Wilford

Wilford holds a dignified and sturdy feel, suitable for any era.

Wilfrid

Wilfrid is traditional yet fresh, a name with a reliable sound.

Wilky

Wilky has a friendly and approachable vibe, perfect for easy-going personalities.

Will

Will is straightforward and classic, a timeless name.

Willard

Willard feels dependable and strong, suitable for a trustworthy individual.

Williric

Williric stands out for its uniqueness and distinctiveness.

Willis

Willis offers a familiar and comforting feel, an easy-going option.

Wilmer

Wilmer strikes a balance between classic and modern, with a sophisticated feel.

Windsor

Windsor exudes elegance and high-class charm.

Winfield

Winfield is both classic and gentle, holding a warm appeal.

Winthrop

Winthrop stands out for its distinguished and scholarly tone.

Wiremu

Wiremu is a name of cultural richness and unique sound.

Wisdom

Wisdom suggests intelligence and insight, ideal for an enlightened personality.

Wit

Wit is sharp and clever, offering a straightforward charm.

Witek

Witek feels lively and exuberant, full of zest.

Witold

Witold offers a solid, reliable sound, perfect for any individual.

Woden

Woden has a mythic, powerful presence, suitable for someone who stands tall.

Wolfe

Wolfe is strong and primal, conveying a sense of wild strength.

Wöllem

Wöllem sounds unique and sophisticated, adding a touch of the extraordinary.

Wolter

Wolter offers a classic feel with a modern twist.

Woodie

Woodie feels warm and friendly, perfect for an approachable person.

Wulf

Wulf feels edgy and daring, suitable for someone with a bold personality.

Wyber

Wyber is unique and modern. It offers a touch of the unexpected.