Wilson Boy

Popularity: #541 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-suhn //ˈwɪl.sən//

Origin: English; Scottish

Meaning: Son of Will; son of the resolute one

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Wilson is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Wulfson," which means "son of Wulf," where "Wulf" translates to "wolf." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, including the Old Norse "Vulfsson," before being anglicized into its current form. The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old Norse names were assimilated into the English lexicon, often with the suffix "-son" indicating lineage or descent.

Historically, the name Wilson has been borne by notable figures, including the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, who served from 1913 to 1921 and played a significant role in international diplomacy during World War I. The name also appears in various historical documents and records, often as a surname, reflecting its widespread use in England and later in America.

The name's presence in literature and historical texts can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where it was commonly used as a patronymic surname, indicating familial connections. Culturally, the name Wilson carries connotations of strength and loyalty, attributes often associated with the wolf in various mythologies.

The wolf has been a symbol of courage and tenacity across different cultures, which may have contributed to the name's enduring appeal. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Will" or "Willy" have emerged, reflecting a more personal or affectionate usage of the name.

Overall, Wilson's historical roots and cultural significance have solidified its place in the English-speaking world.

Famous people named Wilson

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

We also feature individuals named Wilson 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.

Wilson Pickett is a singer best known for In the Midnight Hour, Land of 1000 Dances, and Mustang Sally.

Wilson Cruz is an actor best known for My So-Called Life, Party of Five, and Star Trek: Discovery.

Wilson Bentley was a meteorologist best known for his pioneering work in snowflake photography.

Wilson Kipsang is a long-distance runner best known for winning the Berlin Marathon and the London Marathon.

Wilson Ramos is a professional baseball player best known for his time with the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays.

Wilson Fisk is a fictional character best known as the primary antagonist in Marvel Comics' Daredevil series.

Wilson Chandler is a professional basketball player best known for his time with the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.

Fictional characters named Wilson

The following list of fictional characters named Wilson 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.

Wilson is a fictional character from the film Cast Away. He is a volleyball that becomes the main character's companion during his isolation on a deserted island.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilson, 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 Wilson. 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 Wilson was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Wilson has ranked as high as #277 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in New York, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Wilson has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

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

Top States for Wilson (2024)

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
TX 41
11%
CA 40
11%
NY 23
6%
FL 22
6%
NC 19
5%
TN 18
5%
MN 16
4%
VA 15
4%
GA 14
4%
AL 13
3%
OH 13
3%
MA 13
3%
PA 13
3%
SC 13
3%
IL 11
3%

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 Wilson.

YearBirths
2024431
2023404
2022387
2021370
2020402
2019417
2018433
2017404
2016439
2015433
2014461
2013391
2012422
2011409
2010429
2009488
2008492
2007473
2006507
2005516
2004547
2003468
2002509
2001463
2000421
1999405
1998400
1997380
1996380
1995410
1994369
1993434
1992513
1991436
1990417
1989323
1988353
1987293
1986287
1985276
1984269
1983249
1982269
1981259
1980284
1979242
1978225
1977213
1976217
1975217
1974206
1973203
1972228
1971270
1970288
1969240
1968227
1967254
1966302
1965251
1964262
1963284
1962288
1961272
1960281
1959313
1958318
1957355
1956305
1955337
1954333
1953359
1952356
1951355
1950352
1949377
1948437
1947439
1946429
1945398
1944455
1943461
1942466
1941450
1940447
1939401
1938390
1937352
1936392
1935341
1934352
1933349
1932350
1931339
1930430
1929400
1928434
1927460
1926464
1925445
1924543
1923532
1922560
1921601
1920583
1919853
19181,381
1917921
1916912
1915767
1914605
1913659
1912496
1911129
1910112
1909106
190879
190783
190668
190573
190478
190363
190269
190151
190089
189959
189860
189744
189673
189571
189443
189366
189256
189158
189067
188944
188862
188752
188671
188559
188478
188367
188282
188173
188072