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Watt
Pronounced WOT /ΛwΙt/Medium
Meaning: Watt began as a surname drawn from Wat, the everyday medieval nickname for Walter, a Germanic name joining 'wald' (rule) and 'heri' (army). Used as a first name, it carries that inherited sense of a leader of men.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Watt reaches back to Wat, the friendly medieval clipping of Walter, and hardened into a family surname before a handful of American parents revived it as a first name. Through Walter it means 'ruler of the army.' It shows up in US birth records from the late eighteen-hundreds onward.
Watt was only about fifteen a year even at its peak, and it had all but vanished from birth records by the nineteen-seventies. A boy named Watt in its heyday would sit in a great-grandparent's generation today, an unmistakably old-fashioned choice.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
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James Watt (1736-1819)Scottish engineer whose improvements to the steam engine made his surname the standard unit of power
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Watt mean?
It is an English name from a surname that began as a medieval pet form of Walter, so it carries Walter's meaning, 'ruler of the army.'
How do you pronounce Watt?
It is said WOT /ΛwΙt/ - one syllable.
Is Watt a boy or girl name?
Watt is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Watt?
Watt was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen boys a year even at its peak in the early nineteen-hundreds.