100 Winning W Names for Boys

W names have a warm, sturdy sound to them, from old English classics like William and Walter to nature-tinged picks like Wren and Wilder. There is a quiet confidence in that opening letter, and it suits a lot of different personalities.

This list rounds up 100 boy names that start with W, with the meaning, origin, and a bit of history for each one. You will find English and Germanic staples, surnames that crossed over into first names, a few international finds, and some fresh modern choices mixed in.

Scroll through and see which W name feels right for your little one.

100 Wonderful Boy Names That Start with W

Browse this collection of handsome boy names starting with W to find the perfect match for your family.

1. Wade: Means “to go,” a very old pick among 4-letter boy names that start with W.
2. Wadsworth: An uppity English place name that means “village near the ford.”
3. Wagner: A hardworking German last name meaning “wagoner.”
4. Wahkan: This Native American (Sioux) name translates to “sacred.”
5. Wahyu: An enlightening Indonesian pick among unique W names for boys, meaning “revelation.”
6. Wainwright: This adventurous name referred to a “wagon maker” in Old English.
7. Waldo: This familiar Old German name means “to rule,” but always leaves us wondering where he is hiding.
8. Waldorf: Like the famous salad and luxury hotel, this uncommon name means “village in the forest.”
9. Waleed: A perfect Arabic baby boy name meaning “newborn.”
10. Walenty: A Polish form of Valentine, this romantic name translates to “strong and healthy.”
11. Walery: A powerful Polish pick among male names that start with W, meaning “strength.”
12. Walid: Similar to Waleed, this Arabic name is perfect for a newborn baby.
13. Walker: A common occupational surname for a traditional cloth-cleaning method known as walking.
14. Wallace: Used for a person from Wales, and carried by Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace.
15. Wallis: A variant of Wallace, this surname turned first name also means “Welshman.”
16. Wally: A fun and friendly nickname for names containing the “wal” element.
17. Walter: A strong name for a man, holding all the power of an “army commander.”
18. Wangchuk: A rare Tibetan name meaning “mighty” or “powerful,” borne by Bhutan’s ruling royal house.
19. Wanyonyi: This Eastern African name signifies a baby born during the weeding season.
20. Wapi: A short yet sparky Native American (Sioux) name meaning “lucky.”
21. Waqas: One of the boldest Muslim boy names with W, meaning “brave,” “wise,” or “warrior.”
22. Ward: An affectionate Old English name meaning “guard.”
23. Wardell: An old place name inspired by a watchman’s lookout hill.
24. Warden: Similar to Ward, this English name best suits an attentive little caretaker.
25. Warren: With English and French roots, this occupational name translates to “park-keeper.”
26. Warrick: Meaning “leader who defends,” you can easily trust anyone named Warrick.
27. Warrin: This dreamy Australian Aboriginal name represents a baby born in the colder months.
28. Warrior: A bold modern word name taken straight from the English term for a fearless fighter.
29. Washington: A patriotic surname honoring George Washington, the first US president.
30. Wassily: A German spelling of the Russian Vasiliy, rooted in the Greek word for “king.”
31. Wasswa: A unique African boy’s name given to the eldest of twins.
32. Watatsumi: Rare among guy names that start with W, named after a dragon water god from Japanese mythology.
33. Watson: Meaning “son of Walter,” this English name is great for budding detectives.
34. Wayland: A unique Old English name meaning “land by the roadway.”
35. Wayne: This manly name translates to “wagon maker” in Old English.
36. Weber: Originating from an old occupational surname meaning “weaver.”
37. Webster: An excellent alternative to Weber, Webster also means “weaver.”
38. Wei: Short but strong, this Chinese name element has various meanings, including “power.”
39. Wekasa: This African name describes a child born during the harvest.
40. Wellington: A strong historical name, meaning “from the wealthy estate” or “from the temple clearing.”
41. Wen: A Chinese name oozing with culture, meaning “literary” or “writing.”
42. Wenceslaus: Right from the Christmas carol, this Slavic boy’s name shines with the meaning “greater glory.”
43. Wendell: Meaning “wanderer,” this German-rooted name represents an adventure waiting to happen.
44. Wentworth: Meaning “winter settlement,” or perhaps “pale man’s settlement,” named after an English place.
45. Wenzel: A shorter Slavic form of Wenceslaus, also meaning “greater glory.”
46. Werner: A strong German surname and first name for a “defending warrior.”
47. Wes: Short for Wesley, but it could also simply mean “west.”
48. Wesley: Meaning “western meadow,” this old-fashioned boy’s name sounds peaceful and pretty.
49. West: A breezy directional name and modern unisex pick, short and effortlessly cool.
50. Westley: Similar to Wesley, this vintage British name means “western meadow.”
51. Weston: Following the directional trend, Weston is a name for a kid “from the western town.” Weston ranked #55 among U.S. boy names in 2025, given to 5,482 baby boys, according to Social Security Administration data.
52. Whelan: An Irish family name meaning “wolf.”
53. Whetū: Means “star” in Maori, giving you a fun and glittering 5-letter name.
54. Whitaker: An Old English surname with the wintery meaning of “white field.”
55. Whitney: This gender-neutral British name meaning “white island” is often used for girls, but works well for boys.
56. Wicket: A rare yet sporty name referring to the stump used in cricket.
57. Widukind: A Germanic name borne by a Saxon leader, meaning “child of the forest.”
58. Wilbur: A sturdy Old German name meaning “resolute,” known through aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright.
59. Wilder: This surname starting with W makes a fun given name for a wild or untamed boy.
60. Wiley: Originating from various place names in England, Wiley makes a fun yet tricky name.
61. Wilfred: A strong and proper name with the gentle meaning of “one who desires peace.”
62. Wilhelm: The stately German form of William, meaning “resolute protector” and borne by two kaisers.
63. Wilkie: A cutesy Scottish diminutive form of William.
64. Will: The most recognizable diminutive from William or other similar names.
65. Willard: Another powerful German origin name meaning “brave” or “hardy.”
66. Willem: A Dutch form of William.
67. William: Timeless and popular, this classic German-rooted male name means “resolute protector.” William ranked #9 among U.S. boy names in 2025, with 10,545 newborns given the name, according to the Social Security Administration ⁽¹⁾.
68. Willie: A classic nickname for names built on the “wil” element, like William and Wilfred.
69. Willihard: Similar to the brave name Willard, yet with an extra syllable for flair.
70. Willoughby: One of the longest boy names that start with W, meaning “willow farm.”
71. Wilmer: Made from elements meaning “will,” “desire,” and “famous,” making it a passionate German name.
72. Wilson: A common surname and cool first name, meaning “son of Will.” Surnames run into the thousands nationwide: according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 156,621 distinct last names each appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 census ⁽²⁾.
73. Wim: A crisp Dutch short form of Willem, the local version of William.
74. Wincenty: A Polish form of Vincent, bringing the triumphant meaning of “to conquer.”
75. Winfred: A posh English male name given to a “peaceful friend.”
76. Winsome: A rare word name from Old English wynsum, meaning charming or pleasant.
77. Winston: A distinguished British name meaning “joyful stone,” tied forever to statesman Winston Churchill.
78. Winter: A gender-neutral nature name from the coldest season, sweet for a December baby.
79. Winthrop: Meaning “friend’s village,” this English name sounds highly sophisticated.
80. Wiremu: The Maori form of William, a warm way to carry that classic across cultures.
81. Wisdom: A virtue name lifted from the English word, a quiet wish for a thoughtful child.
82. Wit: A snappy Polish and Dutch form of Vitus, from the Latin for “life.”
83. Witold: A Polish boy’s name meaning “chaser of the people” and “ruler of the forest.”
84. Wojciech: A cool Polish name for a “joyous warrior.”
85. Wojsław: Meaning “famous warrior,” this Polish name suits a strong little boy.
86. Wolcott: A quaint name for a baby born in a “cottage near a spring.”
87. Wolf: An epic, animal-inspired middle name for kids who love the wild.
88. Wolfgang: A spirited German name meaning “traveling wolf,” famously worn by composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
89. Wolfhard: Another fantastic wolf-related option, meaning “brave wolf” in German.
90. Wonder: A rare word name for a sense of awe, a magical name for your little miracle.
91. Woodrow: A presidential name, traditionally referring to a “row of houses by a wood.”
92. Woody: Kids will love this earthy, rustic male name famous from the Toy Story movies.
93. Wren: Like the small songbird, this 4-letter name is sweet and melodic.
94. Wright: An old occupational surname for a craftsman, making a smart, admirable given name.
95. Wu: A strong Chinese name element meaning “military” or “martial.”
96. Wyatt: Meaning “brave at war,” this fiery English name features a very cool spelling. Wyatt ranked #38 among U.S. boy names in 2025, with 6,480 baby boys given the name, per the Social Security Administration.
97. Wyn: A Welsh pick among short names for boys that start with W, meaning “pure” or “fair.”
98. Wynono: A lesser-heard male form of the Native American (Lakota) girl name Wynona, meaning “firstborn.”
99. Wystan: A rare yet handsome Old English name meaning “battle stone.”
100. Wyvern: One of the more fantastical W names for boys, named after a two-legged dragon from European folklore.

W Names for Boys FAQs