Baby Names That Start With W, Girls and Boys
Popular W names for girls
- Willow (English, from the tree, carrying an association of grace and flexibility)
- Willa (Germanic roots, meaning will or protection)
- Winter (English, used directly as a given name from the season)
- Wren (English, from the songbird, currently a trending nature name)
Popular W names for boys
- William (Germanic, meaning will and protection, currently the third most popular boys’ name nationally in the US, and one that has ranked among the top 20 for hundreds of years)
- Wyatt (English, meaning brave in war)
- Weston (English, meaning western town)
- Wesley (English, meaning western meadow)
- Walker (English, an occupational surname for a cloth walker/fuller)
Quick facts
| Common origins | Germanic, English |
| Common meaning themes | will/protection, nature (trees, birds, seasons) |
| Note | William has held a spot among the most popular boys’ names for an unusually long, continuous stretch, hundreds of years rather than a single trend cycle |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular baby name starting with W?
William is currently the third most popular boys’ name overall in the US, while Willow leads for girls and continues climbing.
How long has William been a popular name?
Remarkably long. It has ranked among the top 20 boys’ names for hundreds of years, making it one of the most consistently used names in English history rather than a recent trend.
Related reading
Broader style-based lists: unique girl names, cute and cool boy names, nature names.