The earliest use of WAG as an acronym of wife and girlfriend dates back to 2004, though it was in reference to partners of England players during media coverage of the 2006 World Cup that the expression entered the mainstream. It has since steadily gained currency, and its potential for manipulation has spawned a number of tongue-in-cheek derivatives. Two such examples are Waglash, a blend of Wag and backlash used in the headlines of scornful tabloid articles, and SWAGs, an acronym of Summit Wives and Girlfriends, referring to the partners of leaders participating in the G8 summit.

The earliest use of WAG as an acronym of wife and girlfriend dates back to 2004, though it was in reference to partners of England players during media coverage of the 2006 World Cup that the expression entered the mainstream. It has since steadily gained currency, and its potential for manipulation has spawned a number of tongue-in-cheek derivatives. Two such examples are Waglash, a blend of Wag and backlash used in the headlines of scornful tabloid articles, and SWAGs, an acronym of Summit Wives and Girlfriends, referring to the partners of leaders participating in the G8 summit.