Wilder
Wilder is an English and German surname, sometimes used as a given name, meaning "untamed" or "wild", a wild, free, or natural state or existence, also passionately eager or enthusiastic.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Wilder
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Wilder is an English and German surname, sometimes used as a given name, meaning "untamed" or "wild", a wild, free, or natural state or existence, also passionately eager or enthusiastic.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Wilder
As a girl name
Wilder first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1918, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 89 Wilders were born — ranking #2,142 that year. As of 2026, Wilder ranks #3,424 for girls with 46 births, holding steady (-3%). In total, more than 691 Wilders have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Wilder first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1914, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 890 Wilders were born — ranking #365 that year. As of 2026, Wilder ranks #384 for boys with 843 births, rising sharply (+29% over the past five years). In total, more than 9K Wilders have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Wilder
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Wilder. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Wilder
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Wilder D. Baker (1890–1975), United States Navy admiral
- Wilder Dwight Bancroft (1867–1953), American chemist
- Wilder Calderón (born 1947), Peruvian politician
- Wilder Cartagena (born 1994), Peruvian footballer
- Wilder W. Crane Jr. (1928–1985), American politician
- Wilder D. Foster (1819–1873), American politician
- Wilder Guisao (born 1991), Colombian footballer
- Wilder W. Hartley (1901–1970), American politician
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Wilder
Phonetically similar names — useful when Wilder 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 Wilder
What does the name Wilder mean?
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In which U.S. states is Wilder most popular?
Is Wilder a unisex name?
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About the name Wilder
Wilder is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 9K births in the dataset. Wilder's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #365. Use the chart and map above to compare Wilder's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "W" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.