Wilson

Wilson - A very unique male name

Wilson appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #230. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Wilson and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Wilson? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Wilson. The baby boy name Wilson was given to 371 baby boys in 2025, ranking #667 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,952 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Wilson peaked in popularity 108 years ago in 1918 on position 122.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Wilson, 1-5?

Wilson is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Wilson is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #369 - and is the least popular in Illinois at position #1,272.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Wilson is where you live.

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Wilson origin and meaning

English patronymic surname

A transferred surname meaning 'son of Will'; Will is the short form of William, Germanic 'resolute protector'

Wilson has been a steady, low-key given name since 1910, peaking in 1918 in the era of President Woodrow Wilson — whose Wilson was a surname, not a given name. It has drifted slowly downward since.

Attested etymology

Wilson is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Wilson, pop culture references for the name Wilson and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Wilson

We've found the following names that sound similar to Wilson, sorted by popularity.

Wilkens / Wilkins /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Wilson

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Wilson a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Wilson?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

WIL-sun · /ˈwɪlsən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Wilson Rawls — Author of Where the Red Fern Grows (1913–1984) Historical

Style

SurnameClassic

Why parents choose it

Wilson is a quiet surname-name choice — bookish and dependable, without the trendiness of Jackson or Carter.

Worth knowing

• Most Wilsons people can name — the president, the musicians — held it as a surname