Wilber Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-bur //ˈwɪlbər//
Origin: Old English; German
Meaning: Old English: resolute; German: bright
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wilber has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "berht" meaning "bright" or "famous." This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to "resolute brightness" or "famous will." The name evolved through various forms, with early instances appearing in medieval England, where it was sometimes spelled as "Wilbur" or "Wilber." The transition into modern English maintained the phonetic characteristics of its Old English origins, solidifying its presence in the language by the late Middle Ages. Historically, the name Wilber has been associated with notable figures, particularly in the 19th century.
One prominent individual was William Wilberforce (1759–1833), a British politician and social reformer known for his efforts to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire. His legacy has contributed to the name's recognition and respectability, as he is often celebrated for his moral conviction and dedication to social justice.
Additionally, the name appears in various literary works and historical texts, further embedding it in cultural narratives. Culturally, the name Wilber carries connotations of strength and determination, reflecting the qualities of its linguistic components.
It has been used in various contexts, including literature and the arts, often symbolizing a character with a strong will or a bright future. The diminutive form "Wil" has also emerged, providing a more informal variant that retains the essence of the original name.
Overall, Wilber's historical and cultural significance underscores its enduring appeal throughout the centuries.
Famous people named Wilber
In this section, you will find notable people named Wilber. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Wilber who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Wilber who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Wilber Smith is a novelist best known for When the Lion Feeds, A Sparrow Falls, and The Burning Shore.
Wilber Pan is a singer, actor, and television host best known for his music albums and roles in Taiwanese dramas.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilber, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Wilber. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Wilber was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Wilber has ranked as high as #707 nationally, which occurred in 1919, and has been most popular in California, Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Wilber has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wilber is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Wilber was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Wilber (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Wilber.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2020 | 40 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2018 | 42 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2010 | 53 |
| 2009 | 41 |
| 2008 | 68 |
| 2007 | 56 |
| 2006 | 81 |
| 2005 | 53 |
| 2004 | 60 |
| 2003 | 61 |
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2001 | 47 |
| 2000 | 44 |
| 1999 | 45 |
| 1998 | 34 |
| 1997 | 29 |
| 1996 | 33 |
| 1995 | 40 |
| 1994 | 31 |
| 1993 | 44 |
| 1992 | 36 |
| 1991 | 37 |
| 1990 | 37 |
| 1989 | 29 |
| 1988 | 23 |
| 1987 | 18 |
| 1986 | 18 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1984 | 17 |
| 1983 | 8 |
| 1982 | 10 |
| 1981 | 12 |
| 1980 | 15 |
| 1979 | 9 |
| 1978 | 7 |
| 1977 | 9 |
| 1976 | 18 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1974 | 26 |
| 1973 | 12 |
| 1972 | 21 |
| 1971 | 20 |
| 1970 | 9 |
| 1969 | 19 |
| 1968 | 20 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 12 |
| 1965 | 16 |
| 1964 | 19 |
| 1963 | 17 |
| 1962 | 25 |
| 1961 | 20 |
| 1960 | 15 |
| 1959 | 33 |
| 1958 | 29 |
| 1957 | 31 |
| 1956 | 29 |
| 1955 | 32 |
| 1954 | 37 |
| 1953 | 40 |
| 1952 | 45 |
| 1951 | 33 |
| 1950 | 30 |
| 1949 | 36 |
| 1948 | 45 |
| 1947 | 64 |
| 1946 | 41 |
| 1945 | 40 |
| 1944 | 51 |
| 1943 | 65 |
| 1942 | 74 |
| 1941 | 72 |
| 1940 | 87 |
| 1939 | 74 |
| 1938 | 88 |
| 1937 | 70 |
| 1936 | 101 |
| 1935 | 105 |
| 1934 | 84 |
| 1933 | 67 |
| 1932 | 110 |
| 1931 | 113 |
| 1930 | 146 |
| 1929 | 106 |
| 1928 | 123 |
| 1927 | 142 |
| 1926 | 139 |
| 1925 | 147 |
| 1924 | 160 |
| 1923 | 158 |
| 1922 | 159 |
| 1921 | 146 |
| 1920 | 151 |
| 1919 | 162 |
| 1918 | 151 |
| 1917 | 151 |
| 1916 | 125 |
| 1915 | 160 |
| 1914 | 94 |
| 1913 | 71 |
| 1912 | 64 |
| 1911 | 35 |
| 1910 | 35 |
| 1909 | 31 |
| 1908 | 21 |
| 1907 | 24 |
| 1906 | 24 |
| 1905 | 18 |
| 1904 | 21 |
| 1903 | 17 |
| 1902 | 20 |
| 1901 | 13 |
| 1900 | 31 |
| 1899 | 6 |
| 1898 | 21 |
| 1897 | 12 |
| 1896 | 20 |
| 1895 | 21 |
| 1894 | 15 |
| 1893 | 15 |
| 1892 | 18 |
| 1891 | 11 |
| 1890 | 16 |
| 1889 | 14 |
| 1888 | 11 |
| 1887 | 22 |
| 1886 | 14 |
| 1885 | 22 |
| 1884 | 23 |
| 1883 | 17 |
| 1882 | 29 |
| 1881 | 14 |
| 1880 | 23 |