Boy · #2,847 in 2026

Wilbur

Wilbur is an English and German masculine given name of Germanic origin as well as a surname. The etymology of the name is disputed, however the most accepted theory is that it is composed of the elements wilþī- "wild", and ebur "boar". Another suggestion is that it derives from German willo "will", "wish", "desire", and burg "fortress". Notable people with the name include:

  • English
Current Rank
#2,847
Peak Rank
#91 (1918)
Total Babies
57K
5-Yr Trend
+38%
1912
First Year
1959
Last Year
1919
Peak Year
#2063
Peak Rank
290
Total Count
32
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Wilbur

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Wilbur is an English and German masculine given name of Germanic origin as well as a surname. The etymology of the name is disputed, however the most accepted theory is that it is composed of the elements wilþī- "wild", and ebur "boar". Another suggestion is that it derives from German willo "will", "wish", "desire", and burg "fortress". Notable people with the name include:

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English

The Story of Wilbur

American parents first put Wilbur on the record books as a baby boy name in 1880, with 82 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1918, when 1,800 Wilburs were born — ranking #97 that year. About 28% of every Wilbur on record arrived during the 1920s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Wilbur ranks #2,847 for baby boys with 45 births, rising sharply (+38% over the past five years). All told, over 57K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Wilbur

Phonetically similar names — useful when Wilbur is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilbur

What does the name Wilbur mean?
Wilbur is an English and German masculine given name of Germanic origin as well as a surname. The etymology of the name is disputed, however the most accepted theory is that it is composed of the elements wilþī- "wild", and ebur "boar". Another suggestion is that it derives from German willo "will", "wish", "desire", and burg "fortress". Notable people with the name include:
What is the origin of the name Wilbur?
Wilbur has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English.
How popular is Wilbur in 2026?
In 2026, Wilbur ranks #2,847 among boys' names in the U.S., with 45 babies given the name that year.
When was Wilbur most popular?
Wilbur reached its peak popularity in 1918, ranking #91 that year with 1,800 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Wilbur most popular?
Wilbur has historically been most popular in District of Columbia, Delaware, Indiana. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Wilbur.
Is Wilbur a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Wilbur is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Wilbur?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Wilbur include Atlas, Roosevelt, Caden. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Wilbur

Wilbur is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 57K births in the dataset. Wilbur's peak popularity came in 1918 when it ranked #91. Use the chart and map above to compare Wilbur's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.