Wally is a masculine given name, primarily used as a diminutive or pet name (hypocorism) for other names such as Walter or Wallace.
Origin and Etymology
The name Wally most frequently serves as a short form for:- Walter: This name has Old High German origins, derived from the elements wald (meaning "power, rule") and heri (meaning "army"), combining to mean "commander of the army" or "ruler of the army."
- Wallace: This is a surname of Scottish and Northern English origin, which itself derives from the Old French waleis or a Germanic word walha, meaning "Welshman" or "foreigner."
Usage
Wally is predominantly used in English-speaking countries. It is more common as a nickname than as a formal birth name. While often perceived as friendly and approachable, in British English, "wally" can also be used as a mild pejorative term for a foolish or clumsy person, which may influence its adoption as a formal given name.Notable People
- Wally Cox (1924–1973), American actor and comedian
- Wally Funk (born 1939), American aviator, goodwill ambassador, and space tourist, one of the "Mercury 13"
- Wally Hammond (1903–1965), English Test cricketer
- Wally Herbert (1934–2007), British polar explorer, writer, and artist
- Wally Pipp (1893–1965), American baseball player
- Wally Schirra (1923–2007), American astronaut
- Wally Szczerbiak (born 1977), American-Spanish professional basketball player
- Wally Triplett (1926–2018), American football player, one of the first African-Americans drafted into the NFL
Fictional Characters
- Wally: The titular character in the Where's Wally? (known as Where's Waldo? in North America) series of children's puzzle books.
- Wally Cleaver: A prominent character in the American television sitcom Leave It to Beaver.
- Wally Gator: An anthropomorphic alligator character featured in Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
- Wally West: A superhero in the DC Comics universe, best known as the third character to take on the mantle of The Flash.
- Wally B. : A character from the 1984 Pixar animated short film The Adventures of André & Wally B.