Wally

Wally is a diminutive of Walter, Wallace, or Waldo, each with distinct Germanic roots: Walter from Waldhari, meaning "ruler of the army"; Wallace from Waleis, meaning "Welshman" or "foreigner"; Waldo from wald, meaning "rule." As a standalone nickname, Wally shed all that history and arrived as something entirely unpretentious and cheerful — a name that feels permanently in a good mood.

Wally ranks #188 among America's most popular pet names, and it has a wholesome, friendly warmth that is difficult not to love. It sounds like the name of a companion who is perpetually happy to see you, who approaches every interaction with the same uncomplicated goodwill, and who has never once in their life been in a bad mood for more than three minutes. Wally also carries a gentle humor — Where's Waldo, the beloved search-and-find character, gives it a playful, hide-and-seek quality.