Given name & surname
Wally
“the commander of the army”·“a powerful ruler”
In English use, Wally is an affectionate form of Walter. One German interpretation is “the commander of the army.” In English use, Wally is a diminutive of Waldo. One English interpretation is “a powerful ruler.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Wally is an affectionate form of Walter. One German interpretation is “the commander of the army.” In English use, Wally is a diminutive of Waldo. One English interpretation is “a powerful ruler.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Wally is an affectionate form of Walter. An origin associated with Walter is Germanic. In English use, Wally is a diminutive of Waldo. An origin associated with Waldo is English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Wally is a diminutive of Walter. Wally is an affectionate form of Walter.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1910. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Wally through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,101
- 4,954 boys · 147 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 185 babies
- 2025
- 16
- #5,838 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −3%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 100% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,838 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 185 in 1959. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,807 as a first name in 2020; 587 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Wally’s family of names
In English usage, Wally is a diminutive of Walter. Wally has a related form in Wallace. Wally is an affectionate form of Walter.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Wally
- Wally SchirraAmerican astronaut (1923–2007)
- Wally PfisterAmerican cinematographer and film directorborn 1961
- Wally HickelGovernor of Alaska, United States Secretary of the Interior (1919-2010)
- Wally CoxAmerican actor (1924-1973)
- Wally WoodAmerican comic strip cartoonist and illustrator (1927–1981)
- Wally WolfAmerican swimmer (1930-1997)
- Wally HerbertBritish polar explorer (1934-2007)
- Wally MasurAustralian tennis playerborn 1963
- Wally WingertAmerican voice actorborn 1961
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Wally, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Walt
“the commander of the army”
>99% boys
Ward
“a guardian”
86% boys · 14% girls
Cary
“from the river” · “from the fort on the hill”
95% boys · 5% girls
Wayde
“to cross the river ford”
>99% boys
Timmy
“one who honors God”
>99% boys
Garry
“one who wields a spear” · “a rough but peaceful man”
>99% boys
Andree
“manliness” · “virility”
93% boys · 7% girls
Ernie
“one who is sincere and determined; serious”
>99% boys