Wilburn Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-burn //ˈwɪl.bɜrn//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: From the willow brook; Old English: A stream with willow trees
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wilburn has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements 'wil,' meaning 'will' or 'desire,' and 'burna,' which translates to 'stream' or 'brook.' This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to 'desire by the stream' or 'willful brook.' The name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old English to Middle English, and eventually into its modern form as it was adopted into the English vernacular. The name's journey into contemporary usage reflects the broader patterns of name adaptation and evolution in English-speaking cultures.
Historically, the name Wilburn can be traced back to the medieval period, where it was used as both a given name and a surname. Notable instances include its appearance in historical records from the 12th century, where it was often associated with individuals from specific locales, particularly in England.
The name gained further recognition through its association with various English families and landowners, contributing to its establishment in the English naming tradition. The name's presence in historical texts and documents underscores its significance in the context of lineage and heritage.
Culturally, Wilburn carries connotations of strength and determination, reflective of its etymological roots. The imagery of a stream or brook may evoke notions of fluidity and resilience, qualities that have resonated through generations.
Additionally, the name has been linked to various locales in England, further embedding it within the cultural landscape. While diminutive forms such as Will or Wil may be informally used, the name Wilburn itself has maintained a distinct identity, symbolizing a blend of natural imagery and personal aspiration.
Famous people named Wilburn
In this section, you will find notable people named Wilburn. 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 Wilburn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Wilburn 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.
Wilburn Burchett is a country music singer best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s.
Wilburn Brothers are a country music duo best known for their hits in the 1950s and 1960s.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilburn, 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 Wilburn. 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 Wilburn was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Wilburn has ranked as high as #698 nationally, which occurred in 1926, and has been most popular in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Arkansas.
In the past 5 years the name Wilburn has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wilburn 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 Wilburn 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 Wilburn.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2004 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1991 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1988 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1986 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1985 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1984 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1983 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1982 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1981 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1980 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1979 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1978 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1977 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1976 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1975 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1974 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1973 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 1972 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 1971 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 1970 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1969 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1968 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 1967 | 48 | 48 | 0 |
| 1966 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 1965 | 53 | 53 | 0 |
| 1964 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1963 | 56 | 56 | 0 |
| 1962 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| 1961 | 66 | 66 | 0 |
| 1960 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 1959 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1958 | 70 | 70 | 0 |
| 1957 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1956 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1955 | 97 | 97 | 0 |
| 1954 | 88 | 88 | 0 |
| 1953 | 79 | 79 | 0 |
| 1952 | 100 | 100 | 0 |
| 1951 | 79 | 79 | 0 |
| 1950 | 84 | 84 | 0 |
| 1949 | 111 | 111 | 0 |
| 1948 | 145 | 145 | 0 |
| 1947 | 139 | 139 | 0 |
| 1946 | 134 | 134 | 0 |
| 1945 | 113 | 113 | 0 |
| 1944 | 144 | 144 | 0 |
| 1943 | 149 | 149 | 0 |
| 1942 | 147 | 147 | 0 |
| 1941 | 168 | 168 | 0 |
| 1940 | 184 | 184 | 0 |
| 1939 | 189 | 189 | 0 |
| 1938 | 214 | 214 | 0 |
| 1937 | 179 | 179 | 0 |
| 1936 | 191 | 191 | 0 |
| 1935 | 195 | 195 | 0 |
| 1934 | 234 | 229 | 5 |
| 1933 | 206 | 206 | 0 |
| 1932 | 220 | 220 | 0 |
| 1931 | 249 | 244 | 5 |
| 1930 | 254 | 254 | 0 |
| 1929 | 232 | 232 | 0 |
| 1928 | 258 | 258 | 0 |
| 1927 | 268 | 268 | 0 |
| 1926 | 317 | 317 | 0 |
| 1925 | 280 | 280 | 0 |
| 1924 | 284 | 284 | 0 |
| 1923 | 302 | 302 | 0 |
| 1922 | 247 | 247 | 0 |
| 1921 | 304 | 304 | 0 |
| 1920 | 269 | 269 | 0 |
| 1919 | 274 | 274 | 0 |
| 1918 | 270 | 265 | 5 |
| 1917 | 227 | 227 | 0 |
| 1916 | 226 | 226 | 0 |
| 1915 | 196 | 196 | 0 |
| 1914 | 133 | 133 | 0 |
| 1913 | 116 | 116 | 0 |
| 1912 | 89 | 89 | 0 |
| 1911 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 1910 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1909 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1908 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1907 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1906 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1905 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1904 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1903 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1902 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1901 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1900 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1899 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1898 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1897 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1896 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1895 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1894 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1893 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1892 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1891 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1890 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1889 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1888 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1887 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1886 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1885 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1884 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1883 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1882 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1881 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1880 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
Top States for Wilburn (1980)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 7 |