Clunky yet cuddly, Wilbur is a stylish name in the UK where it currently sits in the Top 600, as cool as Rupert or Wilfred. Its merits are starting to be rediscovered in the US, where it was last truly popular more than a century ago. A recent year saw it given to 42 boys.

Willa has become increasingly fashionable, with its combination of Willa (born Wilella) Cather-like pioneer strength and the graceful beauty of the willow tree.

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.

A name with plenty of grandeur, but a playful nickname, Wolfgang blends sophistication, wildness, and gothic imagery. While it may feel surprising in this century, it does have an allure for those who want a name associated with dark academia, Halloween, history, intellect, wolves, and art.

Wilhelmina might once have been condemned as a clunky relic best left in the past, but a steadily increasing number of parents are dusting it off for their 21st century babies. A reasonably popular choice in the 19th century, but out of favor by the 1950s, in the last decade, Wilhelmina has attracted more attention, and was given to around 110 babies in a recent year.

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.

In the US, Wilma is appears to be eternally fossilized in Bedrock as Fred Flintstone's wife, but in Sweden it's a Top 10 hottie. It did have its moment in the US--from 1912 to 1940 it was a Top 100 name. One notable namesake: track and field star Wilma Rudolph.

This name has hardly been used since Wendell Willkie ran for president in 1940, and it may not quite be ready for revival yet. Still, clunky grandpa names like Lionel, Douglas, Benedict, Carl, and Melvin have received more attention in recent years, so Wendell can't be ruled out just yet.

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.

Its jaunty o-ending makes this name more appealing than most of its Germanic brothers, and we hope we're beyond the constant response to his name being "Where's Waldo?" The weighty reputation of writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson adds a measure of backbone to the name.

This dignified German form of William belonged to two German Emperors and Kings of Prussia, as well as a host of other important historical figures. These include composer (Wilhelm) Richard Wagner, philosophers Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, and physicist Wilhelm Roentgen, who discovered the X-ray. It now sounds rather dated in Germany, however, having dropped out of the Top 20 there in the late 1920s and continuing to decline since.

Slightly more modern than Walter, but only just.

A straightforward, down-to-earth nickname many Walters, from Whitman to Disney, have chosen to go by.

Wilda (or Wylda) has two widely divergent images. Pronounced vill-da, it feels like a cousin of Hilda: a sturdy and none-too-attractive prairie settler. But you can also think of her as wild-ah, as in the feminine of wild and wilder.

Native-American feel via similarity to Winona.

An ancient saint's name belonging to an 8th century English missionary. Variants include Walpurga and Walpurgis.

Willi is a masculine name primarily used in German-speaking countries as a diminutive form of Wilhelm, which derives from Germanic elements meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'helmet' or 'protection.' This shortened variant maintains the friendly, approachable quality common to nickname forms while functioning as a standalone given name. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Willi enjoyed considerable popularity throughout the 20th century, particularly among generations born between 1920-1960. The name carries a classic, somewhat vintage appeal in its native regions. Outside German-speaking areas, Willi might be chosen to honor German heritage or appreciated for its simple, friendly sound. The spelling variant 'Willy' is more common in English-speaking countries.

The visibility of actor Wilmer (That 70s Show) Valderrama has highlighted this name, but it's not likely to spread because of its similarity to the feminine (and dated) Wilma.

Wetzel is a masculine surname that has occasionally transitioned to first-name usage. It derives from German origins, specifically from a diminutive form of the name Werner, meaning 'army defender' or 'protecting army.' Alternatively, it may relate to the Middle High German word 'wetzen,' meaning 'to sharpen.' Historically, Wetzel was more common in Germanic regions as a family name. As a first name, it remains exceptionally rare in the United States and most English-speaking countries. The name carries a strong consonant sound and distinctive Germanic character. Notable references include Wetzel County in West Virginia, named after Lewis Wetzel, a frontiersman and Native American fighter in the late 18th century.

Wilfrid is a distinguished masculine name of Anglo-Saxon origin, combining the elements "will" (determination or desire) and "frid" (peace), creating the meaningful combination "desires peace" or "peaceful resolution." This traditional name was borne by several saints and bishops in medieval England, contributing to its historical significance.