Wylie Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WYE-lee //ˈwaɪli//
Origin: Scottish; English
Meaning: Scottish: crafty; English: from the willow tree
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wylie has its roots in the Old English word "wīl," meaning "resolute protector" or "will," and is derived from the surname Wylie, which originated as a locational name from various places in Scotland and England. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old Norse name "Vigleikr," which combines elements meaning "battle" and "play," reflecting a warrior-like connotation.
The transition into English occurred through the Norman influence in the 11th century, where it became associated with various geographical locations, particularly in Scotland, where it was used to denote individuals from these areas. Historically, the name Wylie can be traced back to the medieval period, with its usage documented in Scotland as early as the 12th century.
Notable figures include Wylie of the Clan MacGregor, who was mentioned in historical texts concerning Scottish clans and their feuds. The name also appears in various records throughout the centuries, including church documents and land grants, which highlight its significance in Scottish heritage.
The name gained further recognition through literary works and historical accounts, contributing to its enduring presence in the English-speaking world. Culturally, Wylie has been associated with themes of strength and protection, resonating with the values of loyalty and resilience found in many Scottish traditions.
The name has also been linked to various folk tales and legends, enhancing its symbolic weight within Scottish culture. A diminutive form, Wylie, is often used affectionately, maintaining the name's connection to its roots while allowing for a more personal touch.
Overall, Wylie embodies a rich historical narrative, reflecting the linguistic and cultural evolution from its Old English and Norse origins to its place in modern nomenclature.
Famous people named Wylie
In this section, you will find notable people named Wylie. 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 Wylie who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Wylie 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.
Wylie Dufresne is a chef best known for WD-50, molecular gastronomy, and innovative cuisine.
Wylie Gustafson is a musician best known for his work in country music and the song 'Rodeo Song.'.
Wylie Overstreet is a filmmaker best known for his work on the documentary series 'The Great American West.'.
Wylie Wiggins is an actor best known for his role in Dazed and Confused.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wylie, 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 Wylie. 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 Wylie was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Wylie has ranked as high as #1198 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, California, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Wylie has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wylie 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 Wylie was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Wylie (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 | 14 | |
| FL | 13 | |
| OK | 10 | |
| GA | 10 | |
| CA | 9 | |
| OH | 8 | |
| TN | 8 | |
| NC | 7 | |
| SC | 6 | |
| IL | 5 | |
| KY | 5 |
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 Wylie.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 162 |
| 2023 | 112 |
| 2022 | 126 |
| 2021 | 148 |
| 2020 | 82 |
| 2019 | 93 |
| 2018 | 103 |
| 2017 | 117 |
| 2016 | 98 |
| 2015 | 75 |
| 2014 | 88 |
| 2013 | 77 |
| 2012 | 85 |
| 2011 | 64 |
| 2010 | 73 |
| 2009 | 69 |
| 2008 | 77 |
| 2007 | 55 |
| 2006 | 70 |
| 2005 | 48 |
| 2004 | 46 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2002 | 46 |
| 2001 | 41 |
| 2000 | 45 |
| 1999 | 39 |
| 1998 | 42 |
| 1997 | 29 |
| 1996 | 40 |
| 1995 | 28 |
| 1994 | 21 |
| 1993 | 30 |
| 1992 | 29 |
| 1991 | 20 |
| 1990 | 28 |
| 1989 | 20 |
| 1988 | 30 |
| 1987 | 30 |
| 1986 | 25 |
| 1985 | 23 |
| 1984 | 29 |
| 1983 | 23 |
| 1982 | 15 |
| 1981 | 23 |
| 1980 | 34 |
| 1979 | 21 |
| 1978 | 26 |
| 1977 | 31 |
| 1976 | 17 |
| 1975 | 35 |
| 1974 | 23 |
| 1973 | 26 |
| 1972 | 39 |
| 1971 | 42 |
| 1970 | 32 |
| 1969 | 27 |
| 1968 | 27 |
| 1967 | 29 |
| 1966 | 44 |
| 1965 | 32 |
| 1964 | 22 |
| 1963 | 38 |
| 1962 | 31 |
| 1961 | 37 |
| 1960 | 30 |
| 1959 | 33 |
| 1958 | 27 |
| 1957 | 36 |
| 1956 | 42 |
| 1955 | 47 |
| 1954 | 32 |
| 1953 | 44 |
| 1952 | 39 |
| 1951 | 39 |
| 1950 | 46 |
| 1949 | 37 |
| 1948 | 44 |
| 1947 | 55 |
| 1946 | 39 |
| 1945 | 51 |
| 1944 | 49 |
| 1943 | 51 |
| 1942 | 48 |
| 1941 | 57 |
| 1940 | 50 |
| 1939 | 50 |
| 1938 | 54 |
| 1937 | 51 |
| 1936 | 57 |
| 1935 | 61 |
| 1934 | 51 |
| 1933 | 38 |
| 1932 | 59 |
| 1931 | 51 |
| 1930 | 56 |
| 1929 | 63 |
| 1928 | 40 |
| 1927 | 52 |
| 1926 | 47 |
| 1925 | 55 |
| 1924 | 71 |
| 1923 | 56 |
| 1922 | 53 |
| 1921 | 49 |
| 1920 | 63 |
| 1919 | 61 |
| 1918 | 56 |
| 1917 | 51 |
| 1916 | 50 |
| 1915 | 53 |
| 1914 | 40 |
| 1913 | 34 |
| 1912 | 25 |
| 1911 | 19 |
| 1910 | 17 |
| 1909 | 22 |
| 1908 | 19 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1906 | 6 |
| 1905 | 16 |
| 1904 | 8 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1902 | 10 |
| 1900 | 17 |
| 1898 | 14 |
| 1897 | 12 |
| 1896 | 13 |
| 1895 | 18 |
| 1894 | 14 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1890 | 9 |
| 1889 | 11 |
| 1888 | 13 |
| 1887 | 15 |
| 1886 | 13 |
| 1885 | 13 |
| 1884 | 10 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1882 | 8 |
| 1881 | 10 |
| 1880 | 12 |