Wilbur Boy

Popularity: #911 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-bur //ˈwɪlbər//

Origin: Old English; Germanic

Meaning: Old English: resolute; Germanic: will, desire

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Wilbur has its roots in Old German, derived from the elements "wil" meaning "desire" or "will" and "berht" meaning "bright" or "famous." This etymological foundation suggests a meaning akin to "resolute or famous will." The name was introduced into English through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it was adapted from the Old French form "Wilbert." Over time, it evolved in usage and spelling, becoming more common in England during the Middle Ages. Historically, the name Wilbur is notably associated with the 19th-century American aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright, who, alongside his brother Orville, is credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane.

Their achievements in the early 1900s marked a significant milestone in the history of aviation, showcasing the name's association with innovation and progress. Additionally, the name appears in various literary works, including the character Wilbur in E.B.

White's beloved children's novel "Charlotte's Web," published in 1952, which further cemented its cultural significance. The name Wilbur carries connotations of strength and determination, reflective of its etymological roots.

It has been embraced in various cultural contexts, often symbolizing ambition and the pursuit of excellence. While diminutive forms like "Will" or "Willy" have emerged, the name Wilbur itself has maintained a distinct identity, often evoking a sense of nostalgia and traditional values.

Overall, the historical and cultural resonance of Wilbur underscores its enduring appeal across generations.

Famous people named Wilbur

In this section, you will find notable people named Wilbur. 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 Wilbur who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Wilbur 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.

Wilbur Wright is an aviation pioneer best known for inventing the first successful airplane with his brother Orville Wright.

Wilbur Smith is a novelist best known for his historical fiction works such as When the Lion Feeds, The Sound of Thunder, and River God.

Fictional characters named Wilbur

The following list of fictional characters named Wilbur is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Wilbur is a fictional character from the book Charlotte's Web. He is a pig who befriends a spider named Charlotte and seeks to avoid being slaughtered by becoming special through her help.

Wilbur is a fictional character from the video game series Animal Crossing. He is a dodo who runs the airport and assists players with travel and other services.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilbur, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

WalterWinstonWesleyWilliamWhitneyWendell

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Wilbur. 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.

WilfredWilderWileyWinstonWaylonWarrenWendellWilmer

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Wilbur was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Wilbur has ranked as high as #227 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Wilbur has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Wilbur 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 Wilbur was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Wilbur.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 27 27 0
2024 42 42 0
2023 33 33 0
2022 30 30 0
2021 25 25 0
2020 21 21 0
2019 37 37 0
2018 28 28 0
2017 28 28 0
2016 25 25 0
2015 30 30 0
2014 23 23 0
2013 22 22 0
2012 15 15 0
2011 21 21 0
2010 22 22 0
2009 24 24 0
2008 24 24 0
2007 28 28 0
2006 24 24 0
2005 19 19 0
2004 26 26 0
2003 29 29 0
2002 27 27 0
2001 28 28 0
2000 30 30 0
1999 31 31 0
1998 41 41 0
1997 38 38 0
1996 37 37 0
1995 41 41 0
1994 42 42 0
1993 39 39 0
1992 53 53 0
1991 59 59 0
1990 52 52 0
1989 62 62 0
1988 72 72 0
1987 62 62 0
1986 65 65 0
1985 80 80 0
1984 74 74 0
1983 72 72 0
1982 97 97 0
1981 103 103 0
1980 95 95 0
1979 104 104 0
1978 112 112 0
1977 106 106 0
1976 104 104 0
1975 122 122 0
1974 124 124 0
1973 127 127 0
1972 132 132 0
1971 193 193 0
1970 149 149 0
1969 204 204 0
1968 181 181 0
1967 176 176 0
1966 238 238 0
1965 255 255 0
1964 276 276 0
1963 269 269 0
1962 310 310 0
1961 309 309 0
1960 354 354 0
1959 359 354 5
1958 352 352 0
1957 384 384 0
1956 402 402 0
1955 435 435 0
1954 436 429 7
1953 442 437 5
1952 416 416 0
1951 436 436 0
1950 488 488 0
1949 487 487 0
1948 537 537 0
1947 595 595 0
1946 523 523 0
1945 513 508 5
1944 591 586 5
1943 674 667 7
1942 688 688 0
1941 666 666 0
1940 711 705 6
1939 702 702 0
1938 842 842 0
1937 734 725 9
1936 792 781 11
1935 869 861 8
1934 926 920 6
1933 905 896 9
1932 1,021 1,016 5
1931 1,095 1,087 8
1930 1,223 1,214 9
1929 1,301 1,294 7
1928 1,410 1,400 10
1927 1,375 1,361 14
1926 1,527 1,510 17
1925 1,609 1,597 12
1924 1,677 1,667 10
1923 1,682 1,672 10
1922 1,731 1,716 15
1921 1,767 1,755 12
1920 1,755 1,741 14
1919 1,706 1,689 17
1918 1,809 1,800 9
1917 1,759 1,749 10
1916 1,688 1,680 8
1915 1,685 1,685 0
1914 1,256 1,248 8
1913 1,049 1,044 5
1912 839 832 7
1911 386 386 0
1910 298 298 0
1909 259 259 0
1908 233 233 0
1907 209 209 0
1906 175 175 0
1905 167 167 0
1904 177 177 0
1903 165 165 0
1902 163 163 0
1901 130 130 0
1900 161 161 0
1899 115 115 0
1898 156 156 0
1897 111 111 0
1896 120 120 0
1895 125 125 0
1894 104 104 0
1893 104 104 0
1892 116 116 0
1891 97 97 0
1890 94 94 0
1889 102 102 0
1888 103 103 0
1887 112 112 0
1886 106 106 0
1885 92 92 0
1884 82 82 0
1883 73 73 0
1882 81 81 0
1881 81 81 0
1880 82 82 0

Top States for Wilbur (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
IA 5
100%