Wally Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationWALL-ee / /ˈwɔːli/English; German
Meaning
English: Ruler; German: Powerful
Historical & Cultural Background
Wally is often considered a diminutive of Walter, which has roots in Old German. The name Walter means 'ruler of the army' and has been used in various cultures. Wally gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. It is often associated with a friendly and approachable persona.
Trend Summary
Wally has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable decline since the mid-20th century.
Similar Names
Variants
- Wallace
- Walt
International Variants
- Walther (German)
- Gualtiero (Italian)
Famous people named Wally
Wally Schirra was an American astronaut and one of the original seven astronauts selected for Project Mercury.
Wally Amos is an American entrepreneur and the founder of Famous Amos cookies.
Wally Joyner is a former Major League Baseball player known for his time with the California Angels.
Wally Pfister is an American cinematographer known for his work on films such as 'Inception' and 'The Dark Knight.'.
Fictional characters named Wally
Wally West is a character from DC Comics, known as Kid Flash and later as The Flash.
Wally the Great is a character from the animated series 'Wallykazam!', who is a friendly ogre.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Wally was first seen in the United States in 1910. Wally has ranked as high as #948 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Washington. In the past 5 years the name Wally has been trending about the same compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Wally (2009)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1912 | 9 |
| 1913 | 8 |
| 1914 | 12 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1916 | 18 |
| 1917 | 18 |
| 1918 | 17 |
| 1919 | 19 |
| 1920 | 20 |
| 1921 | 23 |
| 1922 | 23 |
| 1923 | 31 |
| 1924 | 26 |
| 1925 | 30 |
| 1926 | 38 |
| 1927 | 39 |
| 1928 | 42 |
| 1929 | 46 |
| 1930 | 49 |
| 1931 | 56 |
| 1932 | 40 |
| 1933 | 47 |
| 1934 | 64 |
| 1935 | 68 |
| 1936 | 67 |
| 1937 | 68 |
| 1938 | 66 |
| 1939 | 62 |
| 1940 | 74 |
| 1941 | 78 |
| 1942 | 94 |
| 1943 | 95 |
| 1944 | 85 |
| 1945 | 102 |
| 1946 | 102 |
| 1947 | 119 |
| 1948 | 89 |
| 1949 | 78 |
| 1950 | 66 |
| 1951 | 77 |
| 1952 | 67 |
| 1953 | 72 |
| 1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 86 |
| 1956 | 79 |
| 1957 | 112 |
| 1958 | 127 |
| 1959 | 185 |
| 1960 | 132 |
| 1961 | 162 |
| 1962 | 159 |
| 1963 | 140 |
| 1964 | 102 |
| 1965 | 96 |
| 1966 | 75 |
| 1967 | 66 |
| 1968 | 74 |
| 1969 | 48 |
| 1970 | 47 |
| 1971 | 52 |
| 1972 | 35 |
| 1973 | 39 |
| 1974 | 38 |
| 1975 | 41 |
| 1976 | 34 |
| 1977 | 34 |
| 1978 | 29 |
| 1979 | 24 |
| 1980 | 24 |
| 1981 | 28 |
| 1982 | 18 |
| 1983 | 19 |
| 1984 | 17 |
| 1985 | 22 |
| 1986 | 20 |
| 1987 | 24 |
| 1988 | 25 |
| 1989 | 22 |
| 1990 | 13 |
| 1991 | 19 |
| 1992 | 10 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1994 | 14 |
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1998 | 11 |
| 1999 | 17 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 14 |