Wally

An uncommon Old French pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld FrenchDeclining Also a pet name
#6420 227in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given names of Waldo, Walter, Wallabee, and Wallace.

Wally is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old French and Old Norse origin, a diminutive of Walter — from the Old High German Waldhar meaning 'ruler of the army' — or Wallace, from the Old French meaning 'foreigner' or 'Welshman.'

Wally was a beloved American nickname-name through the mid-20th century, carried by everyone from cartoon characters to baseball legends like Wally Moon. It has the warm, uncomplicated goodness of the era that produced it.

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Popularity Over Time

Wally climbed 1082 spots in the last 20 years — from #7502 to #6420.

04693139185192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Wally
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s69
2010s122
2000s102
1990s121
1980s219
1970s373
1960s1,054
1950s937
1940s916
1930s587
1920s318
1910s120

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(113 years, 19102024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Wally
YearBirthsRank
202414#6420
202315#6193
202215#6130
202110#8122
202015#5961
201912#7139
201816#5754
201716#5769
201613#6700
201512#7038
20149#8747
201311#7518
201211#7525
201110#8039
201012#7062
200910#8272
200810#8284
200714#6247
200619#4850
200514#5861

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Wally as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Wally has also been given to 147 girls in the U.S. since 1915.

Unranked
Current rank
147
Total births
1937
Peak year
Compare Wally as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Wally be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Wally is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #6420. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Wally has two lives

Wally, the baby name
#6420boys
4,938 babies
Currently viewing
Wally, the pet name
#188pet name
570 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19102024) · Methodology