W- Boys

** denotes a name related to the universe. ss denotes a name that is also a species specification. p denotes a name that is also a plant.
  1. Wade
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "at the river crossing"
    • Description:

      Wade has never been outside the US Top 1000 for boys - there's a reason for that. It has a clean spelling, fresh sound and is neither too trendy (unlike Kade or Cade) or too old-school (like Richard or Albert). We think Wade is a winning name.
  2. Walden
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "valley of the Welsh"
    • Description:

      Walden is a recent entrant to the en-ending boys' names trend, a name that summons up placid images of Thoreau's two-year stay contemplating nature near Walden Pond.
  3. Wallace
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "foreigner, stranger"
    • Description:

      Wallace is so square could almost be ripe for a turnaround, especially with the hipness imparted by the British Claymation series Wallace & Gromit. And Wally makes an adorable Leave it to Beaver retro-style nickname.
  4. Walter
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "army ruler"
    • Description:

      Walter was seen as a noble name in the Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Walter Scott era, but it then spent decades in baby name limbo. Now quite a few independent-minded parents are looking at it as a renewable, slightly quirky, classic, stronger and more distinctive than James or John, second only to William among the handsome classic boy baby names starting with W.
  5. Webb
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "weaver"
    • Description:

      This pleasant single-syllable surname might be especially appealing to someone involved with the internet (and who isn't?)--even if some others might see it as a drawback.
  6. Wells
    • Origin:

      Surname from place name
    • Meaning:

      "spring"
    • Description:

      Wells is a newly-famous baby name thanks to pregnancy guru Rosie Pope, who uses it as the short form of the buttoned-up Wellington, name of her youngest child.
  7. Whit
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "white"
    • Description:

      Whit is an uplifting short form of any number of surname-y full names, for Whitman to Whitaker to Whitney. But Whit stands perfectly well on its own and makes for a witty spin on modern virtue names.
  8. Wilder
    • Origin:

      Surname or word name
    • Meaning:

      "wild, untamed, uncontrolled"
    • Description:

      Rugged, outdoorsy, and full of energy, Wilder entered the US Top 1000 back in 2015. Part bad boy, part Western, part preppy, and part nature-loving, Wilder is given to nearly 800 babies each year.
  9. Willoughby
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "farm near the willows"
    • Description:

      Willoughby is an energetic last-name-first route to the popular short form Will, livelier than any of the two-syllable options. It could be picked up by parents attracted to the Willow sound for girls.
  10. Winthrop
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "friend's village"
    • Description:

      Proper Bostonian.
  11. Wit
    • Wolf
      • Origin:

        Animal name or diminutive of Wolfgang, German
      • Meaning:

        " traveling wolf"
      • Description:

        Wolf is a name with a split personality. It can be seen as one of the fierce animal names, like Fox and Bear and Puma, with a touch of the werewolf, or it can be viewed as a quieter, Wolf Blitzer kind of name, fairly common in German (where is pronounced Vulf) and Jewish families, sometimes as a short form of Wolfgang, or even Wolfram or Wolfhart.
    • Wolfgang
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "traveling wolf"
      • Description:

        Chef Wolfgang Puck has helped soften this thunderous Germanic name; music-lovers will appreciate its association with Mozart, though the composer's middle name Amadeus is more appealing.
    • Woodrow
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "row of houses by a wood"
      • Description:

        Aside from President Wilson (born Thomas), most Woodrows, including Herman, Guthrie, and Harrelson, have chosen to be known as Woody, which says it all.
    • Worth
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "enclosure, homestead"
      • Description:

        No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.
    • Wren
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "small bird"
      • Description:

        Wren may not be as time-honored a bird name choice as Robin or even Lark, but it's more fashionable and fresh, with a gentle and earthy vibe.
    • Wyatt
      • Origin:

        English surname
      • Meaning:

        "brave in war"
      • Description:

        Wyatt has been hot, which is to say cool, for several years now. With its easy Wyatt Earpish cowboy charm, it's relaxed but still highly respectable.
    • Whimbrel
      • Woodruff
        • Wordsworth