Settled on your baby’s first name? Then it’s time to select the middle name. Here’s a great list of middle name ideas — all starting with the letter W.
Middle Names That Start With W
- Walden Walden, perhaps most famous for the lake that shares its name, is an ideal name for those who love literature and poetry.
- Walker- Walker is derived from the profession of a fuller, it literally means ‘to walk' in Old English. This name is strong, classic middle name.
- WallaceWallace, which means ‘foreigner' in Norman French, is a popular middle name with those of Scottish descent as it was originally used to honor Sir William Wallace.
- WalterMeaning ‘ruler of the army', Walter has less of a militaristic connotation in the modern era. Instead, most who choose this middle name do so because of the strong two-syllable sounds that work well with monosyllabic first names.
- Ward Ward, which is derived from an Old English word for watchman, is an ideal name for those who envision a strong or vigilant child.
- WarnerWarner is derived from the German ‘Werner', or guard. Today it's very popular among those of German ancestry.
- WarrenWarren, which comes from the Norman French word meaning animal enclosure, is an ideal middle name for those looking for a bit of old world charm to add to their child's name.
- Washington Washington is one of the most famous American surnames, mostly due to President George Washing. Washington is often chosen as a middle name by those who are of a political or patriotic bent.
- Watson Literally meaning ‘son of Watt', this name is perhaps most popular among fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's Dr. Watson.
- Waverly A unisex name that denotes a person who wanders in the meadow, this is an ideal middle name for a child of nature lovers.
- Weatherly A fairly modern English name, this middle name tends to be used by those who are honoring a family member or personal hero with a similar surname.
- Weaver From the Old English word that means ‘to weave', Weaver is both a popular surname and a strong middle name that can easily accompany both single and multiple syllable first names.
- Weber The German version of Weaver, Weber has become a very popular middle name among those of German ancestry.
- WellsThough the name meant ‘spring' in Old English, Wells is perhaps better known now for its association with writer HG Wells and its prominent usage among aristocratic families as a middle name.
- Wellesley A typically female name that means ‘farm among the willows', this name is popular as a unisex among the graduates of the college of the same name.
- WendyA thoroughly modern name, Wendy first saw use in the play Peter Pan and has been used as a first and middle name by generations of fans.
- WesleyMeaning ‘west meadow', Wesley has become a common middle name both due to its ease of pronunciation and its relationship to famous theologian John Wesley.
- West Derived from the cardinal direction, West is a popular choice both because of its short, sharp sound and because it can be a short, strong addition to a longer first name.
- Westin A variant of the English Weston, this name tends to be used by those who are looking for a two-syllable alternative to West.
- WestleyWhile this name is simply an alternative spelling of Wesley, the shared meaning and sounds make it and ideal middle name for many families.
- WestonAn English place name, Weston has the same benefits as Westin but with a somewhat softer ending sound.
- WhitleyAn old English term meaning ‘white clearing, this nature-based name is an ideal choice for those who have a strong connection to the land.
- Whitman Another famous American name, Whitman tends to be most strongly connected to Walt Whitman and his writings.
- WhitneyMeaning ‘white island', Whitney is a name that often has aristocratic connotations and is a common middle name chosen by parents of would-be social climbers.
- WilderA variation of Wild, this word that means ‘uncontrolled' is a fantastic choice for parents who expect to have a strong-willed child.
Boy Middle Names That Start With W
- WadeA given name that means ‘ford' in Old English, Wade is popular as a middle name because it is short and works will with similarly short first names.
- Wake An Old Norse name meaning ‘vigilant', Wake has become a popular name among those looking for simple middle names as well as those who associate themselves with Wake Forest.
- Warrick Derived from the English town of Warwick, Warrick tends to be a favored middle name of those who trace their ancestry to England.
- Wayne Perhaps most famous for its association with John Wayne, this name meaning ‘wagon maker' is truly a hit among those who are fans of the Old West.
- Webb A variation of an Old English word that means ‘weaver', Webb tends to be used by those who are looking for a short, punchy middle name to work with a longer first or last name.
- Wendell Wendell is a derived from a Germanic word meaning ‘wanderer', but today it closely associated with intelligence and bookishness.
- WessonA variation of the English Weston, Wesson is a popular American middle name among those who follow the history of firearms or of the Old West.
- Wheeler Derived from the Old English whele, or ‘wheel', Wheeler is a middle name often chosen by those who have family members with a similar surname.
- Whitaker An English name that translates to ‘white field', this name is not only associated with a famous actor but also with strength and stability.
- WhitleyAnother ‘white field' name, this English name tends to be more common among patrician families and those who strive to be part of the upper crust.
- Wilbur From the old English word meaning ‘wild boar', this is a name that's more common in rural parts of the country and tends to signify a family's humble roots.
- Wilhelm The German version of William, Wilhelm is an incredibly popular middle name for those of German heritage.
- WillardThe English version of a German name that means ‘desire' and ‘brave', this name is popular among those looking for a more formal-sounding middle name.
- WilliamOne of the most popular names in the English-speaking world, William is the name of choice for many who are looking for a two-syllable middle name.
- WillisDerived from William, this middle name tends to be a popular variant among those who like the sound of William but who are looking for something a bit more unique.
- Wilson Meaning ‘son of William', Wilson has become a favorite of history buffs because of its relationship to President Woodrow Wilson.
- Winslow Related to the English location Wine, Winslow is often chosen because it combines a hard consonant beginning with a relatively soft second syllable.
- WinstonAnother name that comes from an English location, Winston became very popular as a middle name in the 20th century due to its association with Winston Churchill.
- Wolfe Wolfe, or Wolf, comes from the animal of the same name and is generally chosen as a middle name by those looking for something that's wild and off the beaten path.
- Wolfgang Derived from the German words for ‘wolf' and ‘path', this name has become a favorite of music lovers because of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- Woodrow Meaning ‘row of houses by a wood', this name was popularized by American President Woodrow Wilson.
- Woods Popular first as a surname, Wood was used by those who worked in the woods but is now a rather high-class middle name.
- Wright From an Old English word meaning ‘maker', Wright is a short and popular middle name that works well with both long and short first names.
- Wrigley Perhaps most famous in America because of the baseball field of the same name, Wrigley means ‘clearing by the river bend'.
- WyattFrom an Anglo-Saxon term meaning ‘brave and hardy', Wyatt is a popular name because of its relative lack of use as well as its short and easy pronunciation.
Girl Middle Names That Start With W
- WandaA Germanic name for the daughter of a famous Polish king, Wanda has become a popular name in recent years because of the superhero that shares this name.
- Wakely Wakely comes from the Old English words meaning ‘watchful' and ‘clearing', making it a good fit for those parents who love nature and hope for an observant child.
- WednesdayThough this name is derived from the day of the week, it tends to have macabre connotations due to its association with the character of Wednesday Addams. With that said, the name is popular among those who like to embrace the spooky.
- Welles An alternative version of Wells, Welles literally means ‘spring' and is often used by those who fell in love with the gentle sound of the name.
- Whisper This common word has connotations of gentleness and quiet, two qualities that virtually any parent would hope for in a child.
- WilhelminaThe feminine form of Wilhelm, this name is popular not just among those of German heritage but among those who note its ties to old-time glitz and glamor.
- WillaThe feminine form of William, Willa is a fairly modern middle name that is favored by those who want their child to have a fun and vibrant name.
- WillowDerived from the name of the Willow tree, this name is popular among those who value nature and the serenity that this name tends to present.
- WilmaThe diminutive of Wilhelmina, this name was made popular in the late 20th century by the Flintstones character and tends to be chosen by those looking for a name that's a bit of a throwback.
- Wilde A variation on Wilde, this name if often most popular among parents who are a fan of the satirist Oscar Wilde.
- Wiley From an Old English word meaning ‘willow', Wiley has the same peaceful connotations as its related name by with a bit more energy behind it.
- Willie A feminine diminutive of William, Willie tends to evoke feelings of playfulness and joy when chosen as a middle name.
- Wilona Wilona comes from an Anglo-Saxon term that means ‘hoped for'. A truly special name, this middle name works well for those children that took a great deal of effort to bring into a family.
- Windsor Taken from a location in England, Windsor is best known as the surname of the English royal family. It is a fantastic fit for those families looking to add a royal touch to a child's name.
- WindyThis playful diminutive is related to several other names, yet has a sense of fun about it not present in any of its roots. As such, it tends to work well with names that are meant to be joyful.
- Winslet From a place name originally recorded as Winesflot in the Domesday book back in 1086, Winslet is a lovely name that appeals to those who are looking for a name with English character.
- Winterrose A thoroughly modern name, this combination of Winter and Rose tends to be used by those parents who are looking for a floral name that brings with a sense of stillness.
- Winifred Winifred means ‘friend of peace' in Old English, and today carries with it an old-fashioned sense of peace and calm. It is a name that tends to be chosen by those who are looking for a formal companion to a lengthy first name.
- Winsome From the English word meaning charming, this name is a popular pick for those looking to highlight the beauty of their daughters.
- WinterWinter is a name derived from the season, of course, but it's become a common middle name because of the serene stillness that is often associated with the coldest months of the year.
- Wisdom Though unusual, this name that refers to a kind of practical intelligence is often chosen by parents looking to highlight the mental acuity of their daughters.
- Wisteria Wisteria is named for the flower, which itself may have German roots in its name. Parents who choose this name often do so because of the flower's associations with beauty.
- WrenWren is derived from the Old English wrenna, which was the name of the songbird now known as wren. This name is quite popular among parents of small girls with big voices.
- Wyette The feminine version of Wyatt, this name has become popular in recent years because of how well it flows with many traditionally feminine names.
- Wynonna Derived from the Dakota word for ‘first born daughter', Wynonna has become a well-loved name by those who are passionate about the West and all it represents.
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