Boy Names That Start With W
These boy names that start with W come straight from US birth records: 541 different boy names starting with W were given to at least five babies in a single year. The list below starts with the 100 used most often, then splits them into names popular right now, rising names, rare finds and short or long picks.
William is the bedrock of the W list, at the top of both the classic and current rankings. It comes with a built-in nickname, and Willie has long been given as a standalone name.
The newer W names share a western, outdoorsy tone. Wyatt, Waylon and Weston are all rising, and -on is the most common ending here. Weston also appears as Westin, so pick the spelling that reads most naturally to you.
One small quirk: the letter W takes three syllables to say, so initials that include it run long when read aloud.
- Boy names starting with W
- 541
- Most used ever
- William 4,102,604 babies
- Most popular in 2017
- William #3 overall
- Common endings
- -on, -er, -rd
Top 100 boy names that start with W
Ranked by how many babies have been given each name since 1880. "Peak decade" is when the name was used most; "Trend" compares the ten years to 2017 with the ten years before.
| # | Name | Babies given the name | Peak decade | Rank in 2017 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William | 4,102,604 | 1950s | #3 | Steady |
| 2 | Walter | 620,767 | 1920s | #265 | Steady |
| 3 | Willie | 448,702 | 1940s | #804 | Steady |
| 4 | Wayne | 352,008 | 1950s | #813 | Steady |
| 5 | Wesley | 212,355 | 1980s | #111 | Steady |
| 6 | Warren | 175,759 | 1920s | #360 | Steady |
| 7 | Wyatt | 147,397 | 2010s | #25 | Rising |
| 8 | Wallace | 81,335 | 1920s | #1,020 | Steady |
| 9 | Willard | 77,299 | 1920s | #2,332 | Steady |
| 10 | Wade | 68,737 | 1960s | #362 | Steady |
| 11 | Wilbur | 56,641 | 1920s | #3,864 | Steady |
| 12 | Wendell | 53,114 | 1950s | #1,926 | Steady |
| 13 | Willis | 51,874 | 1920s | #2,612 | Steady |
| 14 | Wilson | 45,546 | 1910s | #638 | Steady |
| 15 | Will | 44,369 | 1880s | #895 | Steady |
| 16 | Weston | 42,649 | 2010s | #109 | Rising |
| 17 | Wilbert | 39,835 | 1920s | #3,288 | Steady |
| 18 | Woodrow | 38,386 | 1910s | #1,946 | Rising |
| 19 | Wilfred | 29,197 | 1920s | #4,432 | Steady |
| 20 | Winston | 26,454 | 2010s | #405 | Rising |
| 21 | Walker | 23,679 | 2010s | #314 | Steady |
| 22 | Waylon | 20,410 | 2010s | #161 | Rising |
| 23 | Wiley | 17,043 | 1920s | #1,414 | Rising |
| 24 | Wilmer | 15,185 | 1920s | #1,822 | Steady |
| 25 | Ward | 14,683 | 1920s | #2,743 | Rising |
| 26 | Weldon | 13,909 | 1920s | #2,783 | Steady |
| 27 | Wilford | 10,396 | 1920s | #7,500 | Steady |
| 28 | Wilburn | 10,317 | 1920s | not given | Falling |
| 29 | Winfred | 10,078 | 1920s | #12,171 | Steady |
| 30 | Wilfredo | 9,294 | 1980s | #2,472 | Falling |
| 31 | Wilton | 8,523 | 1920s | #5,080 | Steady |
| 32 | Warner | 7,548 | 1930s | #1,489 | Rising |
| 33 | Westley | 7,223 | 2010s | #849 | Rising |
| 34 | Wilber | 6,632 | 1920s | #3,758 | Steady |
| 35 | Whitney | 5,886 | 1980s | #6,307 | Falling |
| 36 | Williams | 5,755 | 1950s | #2,824 | Steady |
| 37 | Waldo | 5,682 | 1920s | #7,055 | Steady |
| 38 | Walton | 5,584 | 1920s | #3,969 | Steady |
| 39 | Winfield | 5,159 | 1920s | #6,652 | Steady |
| 40 | Wylie | 5,068 | 2010s | #1,453 | Rising |
| 41 | Wally | 4,840 | 1960s | #5,486 | Steady |
| 42 | Waymon | 4,716 | 1940s | #9,625 | Falling |
| 43 | Wes | 4,545 | 1960s | #1,079 | Rising |
| 44 | Winford | 4,501 | 1920s | not given | Steady |
| 45 | Westin | 4,442 | 2010s | #834 | Rising |
| 46 | Webster | 4,366 | 1920s | #8,078 | Steady |
| 47 | Wardell | 4,276 | 1950s | not given | Steady |
| 48 | Woody | 4,133 | 1940s | #12,171 | Steady |
| 49 | Willian | 3,928 | 1920s | #5,486 | Steady |
| 50 | Watson | 3,909 | 2010s | #1,016 | Rising |
| 51 | Wayland | 3,837 | 1920s | #3,349 | Rising |
| 52 | Willy | 3,700 | 1990s | #3,969 | Steady |
| 53 | Willam | 3,497 | 1920s | not given | Steady |
| 54 | Werner | 3,365 | 1920s | #7,055 | Steady |
| 55 | Wyman | 3,012 | 1920s | #8,078 | Steady |
| 56 | Windell | 2,975 | 1940s | not given | Falling |
| 57 | Wayman | 2,851 | 1950s | not given | Falling |
| 58 | West | 2,818 | 2010s | #1,852 | Rising |
| 59 | Wm | 2,651 | 1910s | not given | Rare |
| 60 | Wellington | 2,597 | 1920s | #3,410 | Steady |
| 61 | Welton | 2,593 | 1920s | not given | Steady |
| 62 | Washington | 2,578 | 1920s | #4,306 | Rising |
| 63 | Wendall | 2,371 | 1960s | #6,652 | Steady |
| 64 | Willem | 2,358 | 2000s | #2,332 | Steady |
| 65 | Walt | 2,317 | 1960s | #3,651 | Rising |
| 66 | Wilder | 2,263 | 2010s | #573 | Rising |
| 67 | Wolfgang | 2,157 | 2010s | #1,447 | Rising |
| 68 | Wendel | 2,099 | 1950s | not given | Steady |
| 69 | Worth | 2,096 | 1920s | #7,500 | Rising |
| 70 | Wynn | 2,029 | 2010s | #2,332 | Rising |
| 71 | Wayde | 1,973 | 1950s | #3,050 | Rising |
| 72 | Woodie | 1,924 | 1940s | not given | Falling |
| 73 | Wells | 1,917 | 2010s | #913 | Rising |
| 74 | Winton | 1,890 | 1920s | #8,781 | Rising |
| 75 | Wheeler | 1,641 | 1920s | #4,432 | Rising |
| 76 | Wilhelm | 1,631 | 2000s | #4,194 | Steady |
| 77 | Waleed | 1,612 | 2000s | #2,658 | Steady |
| 78 | Willaim | 1,587 | 1980s | not given | Steady |
| 79 | Waldemar | 1,498 | 1920s | not given | Steady |
| 80 | Winslow | 1,493 | 1920s | #3,969 | Rising |
| 81 | Webb | 1,484 | 1950s | #4,894 | Rising |
| 82 | Waymond | 1,480 | 1950s | not given | Falling |
| 83 | Wright | 1,467 | 1920s | #3,651 | Rising |
| 84 | Wilfrid | 1,414 | 1920s | not given | Rising |
| 85 | Wesly | 1,341 | 2000s | #8,078 | Steady |
| 86 | Wash | 1,196 | 1920s | not given | Rare |
| 87 | Walden | 1,184 | 2010s | #2,695 | Rising |
| 88 | Wesson | 1,181 | 2010s | #885 | New |
| 89 | Westyn | 1,180 | 2010s | #1,150 | New |
| 90 | Wiliam | 1,174 | 1980s | #7,055 | Steady |
| 91 | Winthrop | 1,172 | 1910s | #10,700 | New |
| 92 | Wilburt | 1,108 | 1920s | not given | Rare |
| 93 | Williard | 1,080 | 1910s | not given | Rare |
| 94 | Woodson | 1,075 | 1910s | #3,651 | Rising |
| 95 | Wil | 1,032 | 2000s | #6,307 | Falling |
| 96 | Westen | 1,017 | 2010s | #1,878 | Rising |
| 97 | Wolf | 929 | 2010s | #1,946 | Rising |
| 98 | Wali | 883 | 2010s | #2,332 | Rising |
| 99 | Waylan | 875 | 2010s | #2,743 | Rising |
| 100 | Whit | 869 | 2010s | #3,563 | Rising |
Popular boy names starting with W right now
The most used W names for boys in 2017, with their national rank among all boy names.
- William #3
- Wyatt #25
- Weston #109
- Wesley #111
- Waylon #161
- Walter #265
- Walker #314
- Warren #360
- Wade #362
- Winston #405
- Wilder #573
- Wilson #638
- Willie #804
- Wayne #813
- Westin #834
- Westley #849
- Wesson #885
- Will #895
- Wells #913
- Watson #1016
- Wallace #1020
- Wes #1079
- Westyn #1150
- Wiley #1414
- Wolfgang #1447
- Wylie #1453
- Warner #1489
- Wylder #1522
- Witten #1605
- Waylen #1754
Rising boy names with W
Names used far more in the last ten years than in the ten years before.
- Wilder
- Waylon
- Weston
- Westin
- Westley
- Wyatt
- Winston
Unique and rare boy names that start with W
Real names that are still being given today but stay uncommon, so a child is unlikely to share it with a classmate.
- Wilder
- Wesson
- Westyn
- Wolfgang
- Watson
- Willem
- Wells
- Westen
- West
- Waylen
- Wynn
- Witten
- Wolf
- Waleed
- Willy
- Waylan
- Wylder
- Weslee
- Wayde
- Whitaker
- Wali
- Whitman
- Walden
- Walid
- Wrigley
- Willian
- Wayland
- Wilhelm
- Waseem
- Wynston
Classic and vintage W names
Names that peaked before the 1960s. Many are now rare enough to feel fresh again.
- William 1950s
- Walter 1920s
- Willie 1940s
- Wayne 1950s
- Warren 1920s
- Wallace 1920s
- Willard 1920s
- Wilbur 1920s
- Wendell 1950s
- Willis 1920s
- Wilson 1910s
- Will 1880s
- Wilbert 1920s
- Woodrow 1910s
- Wilfred 1920s
- Wiley 1920s
- Wilmer 1920s
- Ward 1920s
- Weldon 1920s
- Wilford 1920s
Short boy names that start with W
Four letters or fewer: easy to spell, easy to call across a playground.
- Wade
- Will
- Ward
- Wes
- West
- Wm
- Walt
- Wynn
- Webb
- Wash
- Wil
- Wolf
- Wali
- Whit
- Wray
- Wess
- Watt
- Wael
- Wirt
- Wei
Long boy names with W
Eight letters or more, often with ready-made nicknames.
- Wilfredo
- Williams
- Winfield
- Wellington
- Washington
- Wolfgang
- Waldemar
- Winthrop
- Williard
- Woodford
- Wilberto
- Whitaker
- Whitfield
- Wilfrido
- Wenceslao
- Willliam
Boy names that start and end with W
Names that begin and end with the same letter, W.
- Woodrow
- Winslow
- Wladyslaw
- Waclaw
- Whitelaw
- Williaw
Filter every boy name that starts with W
Narrow the full list by ending letters, length and popularity. The list updates as you type.
Looking for girl names too? See girl names that start with W, all names that start with W or the name finder for any letter and ending.
Questions people ask
What is the most popular boy name that starts with W?
William is the most used boy name starting with W in US records, given to 4,102,604 babies since 1880.
How many boy names start with W?
US birth records list 541 different boy names starting with W, counting every name given to at least five babies in a year.
What are some unique boy names that start with W?
Uncommon names still in use include Wilder, Wesson, Westyn, Wolfgang, Watson, Willem.
Which boy names start and end with W?
Woodrow, Winslow, Wladyslaw, Waclaw, Whitelaw, Williaw all begin and end with W.
What are short boy names that start with W?
Short picks include Wade, Will, Ward, Wes, West, Wm, Walt.
Source: US Social Security baby name records for every name given to at least 5 babies in a year, from 1880 to 2017. Names are grouped as boy names when most babies given the name were boys.