AHEAD: The ultimate list of “W” names for girls… and which could go viral this year.
If you’re looking for beautiful girl names that start with W, you’re in the right place!
I’ve rounded up every “W” name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.
There aren’t many, but they’re all right here!
Below you’ll find 25 actually useable names, their meanings, and current popularities.
You’ll also find a shortlist of W names poised to go viral in 2025.
Related: Boy Names that Start with W
Table of Contents
“W” names trending in 2025
These girls’ names starting with W are climbing the charts right now, each making significant gains since last year.
Whitley
- Name meaning: White meadow.
- Popularity: #733 (↑152)
Whitney
- Name meaning: White island.
- Popularity: #981 (↑65)
Winifred
- Name meaning: Peaceful friend or blessed peacemaker.
- Popularity: #967 (↑129)
Winona
- Name meaning: Firstborn.
- Popularity: #881 (↑99)
Wren 🔥
- Name meaning: Small bird.
- Popularity: #196
Wrenley or Wrenlee 🔥
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: Wrenley ranks #175 (↑109) and Wrenlee ranks #584 (↑128)
More on 2025 viral predictions in just a bit.
Popular girl names that start with W
The primary spellings of these W names for girls are ranked in the top 1000.
Waverly or Waverleigh
- Name meaning: Meadow of quivering aspens.
- Popularity: The tree name Waverly ranks #880 and Waverleigh isn’t ranking.
Willa
- Name meaning: With gilded helmet, will, desire, protection.
- Popularity: #428
Willow
- Name meaning: Dramatic trees with long hanging branches.
- Popularity: #41
Winnie
- Name meaning: Peaceful friend or blessed peacemaker.
- Popularity: #612
Winter or Wynter
- Name meaning: The coldest season.
- Popularity: Winter ranks #370 and Wynter is #384.
Related: Winter-Themed Names for Girls
Unique girl names that start with W
These W names are unusual but useable!
Walden
- Name meaning: Wooded valley or valley of the Welsh.
- Popularity: This 2-syllable name isn’t ranking.
Wesleigh or Westleigh
- Name meaning: Invented name meaning western meadow.
- Popularity: Neither of these unique girl names that start with W is ranked.
Weston or Westyn
- Name meaning: Western town.
- Popularity: Neither of these 6-letter names is ranking for girls. Weston ranks #75 for boys.
Wilhelmina
- Name meaning: With gilded helmet. Will. Desire. Protection.
- Popularity: This 4-syllable name isn’t ranking.
Wimberly
- Name meaning: Meaning unknown.
- Popularity: This three-syllable name isn’t ranking.
Winslow
- Name meaning: Friend’s hill or burial ground.
- Popularity: This nonbinary name isn’t ranking.
Wisteria
- Name meaning: A plant with cascades of bluish-purple flowers.
- Popularity: This nature-inspired name isn’t ranking.
Wrenna
- Name meaning: Small bird.
- Popularity: This bird-inspired name isn’t ranking.
Wynona
- Name meaning: Firstborn.
- Popularity: This name ending in a isn’t ranking.
Will any girl names starting with W go viral in 2025?
Yes, I believe so!
There are two stand-out names poised for dramatic growth this year.
Wren
Wren has shown a remarkable trajectory unlike any other W name, rising an astonishing 802 spots since first appearing in the top 1000 in 2012 at #998.
The name got a significant boost when John Legend and Chrissy Teigen welcomed their son Wren Alexander Stephens via surrogacy in 2023.
What’s particularly telling is Wren’s consistent pattern of growth – it hasn’t had a single year of decline in over a decade, climbing steadily to its current position at #196. This is rare and suggests strong staying power rather than a fleeting trend.
The name is resonating internationally too – it’s currently #132 in England and #91 in Canada, showing its cross-cultural appeal. Success in multiple English-speaking markets often predicts continued growth in the US.
Its single syllable and gentle sound make it an attractive choice for parents seeking modern alternatives to more established girl names that start with W like Willow (#41) and Winter (#370).
Wrenley
Since debuting in the top 1000 in 2020 at #895, Wrenley has skyrocketed in popularity, reaching #175 in 2023 with an impressive 1,654 baby girls receiving the name.
This nature-inspired choice combines the trending base name “Wren” with the popular -ley suffix, creating a modern twist on the bird name trend.
Its alternative spelling, Wrenlee, is also gaining traction (ranked #584 in 2023), but Wrenley remains the preferred version with more than three times as many babies receiving this spelling.
For parents seeking something unique but not too unconventional, Wrenley hits the sweet spot – it’s familiar enough to be recognized but distinctive enough to stand out.
Nicknames for girl names that start with W
These are great if you love long names but want a shorter W-initial nickname.
👉🏼 Jump ahead to middle names if you wish.
Win or Winnie
Short for: Winifred, Winona, Winter, Winslow
Wave
Short for: Waverly, Waverleigh
Wren
Short for: Wrenlee, Wrenley, Wrenna
Lee or Leigh
Short for: Wesleigh, Westleigh, Wrenlee, Wrenley
Middle name ideas for girl names that start with W
Here are some beautiful first + middle name combinations for a first name with “W” as the first letter.
- Wakely Charlotte
- Wakelynn Grace
- Walda Madelyn
- Walden Juliet
- Walker Evelyn
- Wallace Sophia
- Waltyn Everleigh
- Wanda Piper
- Warren Blakely
- Waverly Jade
- Waylen Brooke
- Wednesday Lily
- Wellsley Harper
- Wendell Rose
- Wendi Hailey
- Wesleigh Belle
- Westleigh Mae
- Westyn Sage
- Whitley Blair
- Whitney Faye
- Wilhelmina Eve
- Willa Sage
- Willow Reese
- Wilma Penelope
- Wimberly Hazel
- Windy Noelle
- Winifred Mia
- Winnie Violet
- Winona Olivia
- Winsley Marin
- Winslow Hadley
- Winter Ruby
- Wisteria Lennox
- Woodlynn Paige
- Woodsley Hart
- Wren Magnolia
- Wrenley Blake
- Wylie Madison
- Wyoming Skye
Girl Names that Start with W: Trend Analysis
W names are remarkably scarce in the top 1000, with only 12 options total – this represents just 1.2% of all ranked girls’ names, making ‘W’ one of the rarest initial letters for contemporary girls’ names.
Willow stands alone as the only W name in the top 100, ranking at #41. This nature name has shown remarkable staying power, consistently ranking in the top 50 since 2016.
There’s an interesting “Wren family” phenomenon developing, where a short nature name (Wren) has spawned longer variations with trendy endings:
- Wren (#196)
- Wrenley (#175) – first appeared in 2020 and has quickly climbed
- Wrenlee (#584)
The “Win-” names form another notable subset:
- Winter (#370)
- Wynter (#384)
- Winnie (#612)
- Winona (#881)
- Winifred (#967)
The names showcase diverse origins and meanings:
- Nature names: Willow (tree), Wren (bird), Winter (season)
- Old English heritage: Winifred, Winnie
- Modern compounds: Wrenley, Wrenlee
- Indigenous roots: Winona (Dakota origin, meaning “firstborn daughter”)
Several strong patterns emerge in sound and structure:
- 8 out of 12 names feature the “win/wen” sound
- The majority have soft, feminine endings (-a, -ie, -ey)
- Many follow the currently popular two-syllable rhythm
Spelling variations reflect contemporary trends:
- Winter/Wynter shows parents’ interest in ‘Y’ spellings
- Wrenley/Wrenlee demonstrates the -ley/-lee pattern common in current naming
Historically, W names for girls have been uncommon in American naming. Even classic options like Wendy and Whitney (now #981) have fallen from their peak popularity in the 1970s and 80s.
However, the scarcity of girl names that start with W actually creates an opportunity – when a new W name catches on, it tends to feel fresh and distinctive precisely because there are so few alternatives.
The source for popularity data is SSN.
This article was originally published on Jan 3, 2022 and was updated on Jan 16, 2025.
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