Wilson Boy

Popularity: #571 · 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to 1921 and played a significant role in international diplomacy during World War I. The name also appears in various historical documents and records, often as a surname, reflecting its widespread use in England and later in America.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.

WilliamWinstonWalterWyattWesleyWarren

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.

WilburWilderWinstonWilfredWillardWaylonWesleyWalker

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Wilson has ranked as high as #280 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.

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.

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.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 405 405 0
2024 432 432 0
2023 404 404 0
2022 387 387 0
2021 376 370 6
2020 407 402 5
2019 417 417 0
2018 439 433 6
2017 409 404 5
2016 439 439 0
2015 438 433 5
2014 466 461 5
2013 397 391 6
2012 422 422 0
2011 409 409 0
2010 429 429 0
2009 488 488 0
2008 492 492 0
2007 478 473 5
2006 512 507 5
2005 522 516 6
2004 547 547 0
2003 468 468 0
2002 509 509 0
2001 473 463 10
2000 426 421 5
1999 405 405 0
1998 406 400 6
1997 380 380 0
1996 385 380 5
1995 416 410 6
1994 374 369 5
1993 434 434 0
1992 521 513 8
1991 443 436 7
1990 426 417 9
1989 323 323 0
1988 353 353 0
1987 294 294 0
1986 287 287 0
1985 281 276 5
1984 269 269 0
1983 253 248 5
1982 274 269 5
1981 266 259 7
1980 284 284 0
1979 242 242 0
1978 225 225 0
1977 213 213 0
1976 217 217 0
1975 217 217 0
1974 206 206 0
1973 207 202 5
1972 228 228 0
1971 270 270 0
1970 293 288 5
1969 240 240 0
1968 227 227 0
1967 254 254 0
1966 302 302 0
1965 250 250 0
1964 263 263 0
1963 282 282 0
1962 289 289 0
1961 272 272 0
1960 281 281 0
1959 313 313 0
1958 318 318 0
1957 355 355 0
1956 305 305 0
1955 337 337 0
1954 333 333 0
1953 359 359 0
1952 356 356 0
1951 355 355 0
1950 352 352 0
1949 377 377 0
1948 437 437 0
1947 439 439 0
1946 429 429 0
1945 398 398 0
1944 460 455 5
1943 461 461 0
1942 466 466 0
1941 450 450 0
1940 447 447 0
1939 401 401 0
1938 390 390 0
1937 352 352 0
1936 392 392 0
1935 341 341 0
1934 352 352 0
1933 349 349 0
1932 350 350 0
1931 339 339 0
1930 430 430 0
1929 400 400 0
1928 434 434 0
1927 468 460 8
1926 464 464 0
1925 445 445 0
1924 543 543 0
1923 540 532 8
1922 566 560 6
1921 606 601 5
1920 590 583 7
1919 853 853 0
1918 1,381 1,381 0
1917 927 921 6
1916 919 912 7
1915 772 767 5
1914 605 605 0
1913 665 659 6
1912 496 496 0
1911 129 129 0
1910 112 112 0
1909 106 106 0
1908 79 79 0
1907 83 83 0
1906 68 68 0
1905 73 73 0
1904 78 78 0
1903 63 63 0
1902 69 69 0
1901 51 51 0
1900 89 89 0
1899 59 59 0
1898 60 60 0
1897 44 44 0
1896 73 73 0
1895 71 71 0
1894 43 43 0
1893 66 66 0
1892 56 56 0
1891 58 58 0
1890 67 67 0
1889 44 44 0
1888 62 62 0
1887 52 52 0
1886 71 71 0
1885 59 59 0
1884 78 78 0
1883 67 67 0
1882 82 82 0
1881 73 73 0
1880 72 72 0

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. 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 41
10%
CA 40
10%
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%
CO 12
3%
NJ 12
3%
IL 11
3%
IN 9
2%
UT 9
2%
WI 9
2%
AR 8
2%
KS 8
2%
KY 8
2%
CT 8
2%
OR 7
2%
MO 7
2%
LA 6
2%
MI 6
2%
AZ 5
1%