Is Wilson a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Wilson is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Wilson?

It’s currently ranked #541 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Wilson?

WIL-suhn · IPA: //ˈwɪl.sən//

Wilson Boy

Popularity: #541 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationWIL-suhn / /ˈwɪl.sən/

English; Scottish

Meaning

Son of Will; son of the resolute one

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Wilson is derived from the Old English name 'Will' and the suffix '-son', meaning 'son of Will'. It has been used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name. The name has historical significance in both English and Scottish cultures, often associated with families of prominence. It has been borne by various notable figures throughout history.

Trend Summary

Wilson has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable rise in the late 19th century and a resurgence in recent years.

Variants

Will
Willy

International Variants

Wilhelm (German)
Guillermo (Spanish)

Famous people named Wilson

Wilson Pickett was an American singer and songwriter known for his influential work in the soul music genre.

Wilson Bethel is an American actor known for his roles in television series such as 'Hart of Dixie'.

Wilson Ramos is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who has played in Major League Baseball.

Fictional characters named Wilson

Wilson is a character in the video game 'Don't Starve', serving as a playable character with unique abilities.

Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, is a prominent villain in Marvel Comics, particularly known for his role in the Spider-Man and Daredevil series.

Sibling Suggestions

William Winston Walter Wyatt Wesley Warren

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)

Top States for Wilson (2024)

Year:

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%
OH	13	3%
MA	13	3%
PA	13	3%
SC	13	3%
AL	13	3%
IL	11	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	72
1881	73
1882	82
1883	67
1884	78
1885	59
1886	71
1887	52
1888	62
1889	44
1890	67
1891	58
1892	56
1893	66
1894	43
1895	71
1896	73
1897	44
1898	60
1899	59
1900	89
1901	51
1902	69
1903	63
1904	78
1905	73
1906	68
1907	83
1908	79
1909	106
1910	112
1911	129
1912	496
1913	659
1914	605
1915	767
1916	912
1917	921
1918	1,381
1919	853
1920	583
1921	601
1922	560
1923	532
1924	543
1925	445
1926	464
1927	460
1928	434
1929	400
1930	430
1931	339
1932	350
1933	349
1934	352
1935	341
1936	392
1937	352
1938	390
1939	401
1940	447
1941	450
1942	466
1943	461
1944	455
1945	398
1946	429
1947	439
1948	437
1949	377
1950	352
1951	355
1952	356
1953	359
1954	333
1955	337
1956	305
1957	355
1958	318
1959	313
1960	281
1961	272
1962	288
1963	284
1964	262
1965	251
1966	302
1967	254
1968	227
1969	240
1970	288
1971	270
1972	228
1973	203
1974	206
1975	217
1976	217
1977	213
1978	225
1979	242
1980	284
1981	259
1982	269
1983	249
1984	269
1985	276
1986	287
1987	293
1988	353
1989	323
1990	417
1991	436
1992	513
1993	434
1994	369
1995	410
1996	380
1997	380
1998	400
1999	405
2000	421
2001	463
2002	509
2003	468
2004	547
2005	516
2006	507
2007	473
2008	492
2009	488
2010	429
2011	409
2012	422
2013	391
2014	461
2015	433
2016	439
2017	404
2018	433
2019	417
2020	402
2021	370
2022	387
2023	404
2024	431