This powerful old name can actually be traced back to two distinct sources. As an Old German name, Wolfram (borne by the medieval poet Wolfram von Eschenbach) derives from a combination of wolf + hraben "raven".

Weaver, which made an appearance as a first name on the U.S. Top 1000 in the late 19th century and then vanished, may rise again along with its occupational brethren, from already-popular choices such as Cooper and Parker to au courant ones like Archer to occupational hotties of the future, including Booker and Sayer.

There have been many great Willies (Mays, Nelson, Wonka), but a boy with this name could never ever go to England. Most people will also assume it is short for the more traditional William, which might be the best avenue for achieving this nickname.

Place names for boys are few and far between; this one would make a singular choice. Prince William of Wales uses this as a surname when required, as in his military life; Jimmy Wales is the entrepreneur behind Wikipedia, Clint Eastwood played the eponymous character Josey (!) Wales in the 1976 The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Virtue name popular with the Puritans, with a warm and welcoming sound. It was used for a minor character in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Asking for trouble.

A spelling variation of Weston most associated with the Westin hotel chain. To avoid looking like an advertisement, we think it’s best to stick with the more traditional spelling.

Woodford is a vintage surname name that rejoined the charts in 2022 thanks to the recent trend of woodsy names for boys. You can take your pick of two stylish nicknames: Ford or Woods.

Wisdom is a rare modern virtue name that might increase in use as this whole category becomes more mainstream. Wisdom is one of the gender-neutral names now on the table for both boys and girls.

Wendel is a masculine name with Germanic origins, derived from the Vandals, an ancient East Germanic tribe. The name means 'wanderer' or 'one who travels,' reflecting the nomadic nature of these historical people. As a variant of Wendell, it offers a slightly more streamlined spelling while maintaining the same pronunciation. Wendel carries an air of quiet strength and dignity, with historical connections to European nobility—several medieval German nobles bore the name. While never extremely common, Wendel enjoyed modest popularity in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in the United States and parts of Europe. The name has an intellectual, somewhat serious quality, often associated with thoughtfulness and reliability. In contemporary usage, Wendel offers a distinctive alternative to more common classic names, appealing to parents looking for a name with historical depth and understated character.

Despite its -son ending, Woodson is not a patronymic surname (although it would be a great choice for the child of a Woody or Woodrow). People with the surname Woodson have ancestors from Woodsome, a town in West Yorkshire, England. Woodsome means "place at the houses in the wood," from the Old English æt wudu-hūsum.

A common Chinese surname that made the Top 1000 in 1881.

A blazing name, connoting speed and recklessness, this might sound interesting in theory but insensitive perhaps in reality. It might be a cool name for a particularly fast moving pet, however.

Actor Wood Harris, best known for his role as Avon Barksdale in The Wire, brought this one into the lexicon. Wood is Harris's nickname -- his real name is Sherwin David -- but it's the name he's exclusively known by. And it fits right in with the current hot trend for woodsy names for boys.

Cherokee name that honors the eagle, a sacred symbol in Native American culture.

A whimsy word name with similar sounds to Warren and Walker and a similar feel to Dream and Prosper, Wonder has been appearing occasionally in the US stats for girls since the 1950s, while for boys, it first appeared in 2019. Australian singer, Sia, used it as a middle name for her third daughter, Somersault Wonder.

See WILLIE.

An English surname originally denoting someone living near a farmstead in the forest. Makes an attractive and unusual addition to the -ley name family.

Likely to be construed as a virtue name (a nice one, at that!), even though Willing is a traditional surname with both English and German roots. As an English name, Willing is a patronymic form of Willa. In German, it's a patronym from Wille, a variation of Ville, which is related to William.