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Wilbur

Wilbur: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“resolute brightness”
Origin
Germanic
Say it
WIL-bur · 2 syllables
Used for
Boys

From Germanic elements wil 'will, desire' and beraht 'bright.' It came into English use through Norman and medieval forms; Wilbur Wright is a notable bearer.

English namesGerman namesNames meaning lightNames meaning strengthVintage namesClassic names

How popular is Wilbur?

202412.6 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Wilbur in 202442

2024 rank#2,943 boys

Peak year1913

Total US babies since 188057,170

Wilbur is rising: use over the last five years is 1.6× what it was a decade earlier.

Names like Wilbur

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • Williamresolute protector · Germanic
  • Henryhome ruler · Germanic
  • Charlesfree man · Germanic
  • Milessoldier or merciful · Germanic
  • Robertbright fame · Germanic
  • Emeryindustrious ruler · Germanic
  • Milogracious; dear · Germanic
  • Luisfamous warrior · Germanic

Wilbur questions

What does the name Wilbur mean?

Wilbur means "resolute brightness". It comes from Germanic. From Germanic elements wil 'will, desire' and beraht 'bright.' It came into English use through Norman and medieval forms; Wilbur Wright is a notable bearer.

Is Wilbur a boy or girl name?

Wilbur is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Wilbur?

42 US babies were named Wilbur in 2024. Its peak year was 1913.

How do you pronounce Wilbur?

Wilbur is usually pronounced WIL-bur.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.