Wilbur
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Wilbur is an Old English name meaning “resolute protector”. It is a uncommon name, overwhelmingly used for boys, with 100% male usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Wilbur
Wilbur is a name of Old English origin, originating from a surname that meant bright resolve or fortress. It combines the elements wil, meaning will or desire, and burg, denoting a fortification or protective enclosure. Historically, the name belonged to the class of topographical and habitational surnames that transitioned into given names during the 19th century. Its usage reflects the period's preference for surnames as primary identifiers for males.
Meaning Comments
- Junglewizard: I'm from Germany and I love this name, it's my cousin's name. In German Wilbur comes from the Germanic elementswilþī-(Proto-Germanic*wilþijaz-) „wild", andebur(Proto-Germanic*eburaz) „boar". The name symbolizes relentlessness and toughness as wild boars were not only hard to hunt but were ferocious fighters, it's why the Germanic tribes had so much admiration and respect for the animal. Beautiful name.
- Maiderson123: My surname, only spelled as 'Wilber' instead Wilbur means 'wild boar' (:
- Blastg1ivdv3: Wilbur is just adorable. It's such a sweet name. I adore it. It's not common anymore, too, so that's a plus.
Gender Usage of the Name Wilbur
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Wilbur is overwhelmingly used as a name for boys. Approximately 100% of recorded bearers are male. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Wilbur
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Wilbur is listed under Uncommon Boy Names worldwide. Its popularity varies considerably across the available regional markets, with the strongest usage in United Kingdom.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Uncommon | 1 in every 757K births |
| United Kingdom | Common | 1 in every 31K births |
| Canada | Common | 1 in every 743K births |
| Australia | Common | 1 in every 128K births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Wilbur ranked #1,117 on the Popular Boys’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It rose from #2,241 in 2024 — an improvement of 1,124 places. Wilbur shows meaningful recent movement in rank, though it remains uncommon overall.
Historically, its best recorded position was #90 in 1913. Its lowest recorded position was #8,361 in 2001. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name rose 681 places (from #1,798 to #1,117).
Name StyleMethodology
Wilbur is classified as Classic Boy Names because it appears in 98% of available years and remains active today, averaging 42 births per year after a historical peak in 1918.Characteristics of the Name Wilbur
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Boy Names
- Length
- 6 letters — Medium-Length Boy Names
- Starts with
- W — Boy Names Starting with W
- Ends with
- r — Boy Names Ending in “r”
Name AestheticMethodology
Wilbur utilizes 2 syllables and an initial stress pattern, creating an auditory profile that feels classic and grounded. It is heavily associated with the pioneer Wilbur Wright, cementing its Vintage Revival status.
Middle Names For Wilbur
Middle names used with WilburMethodology
Wilbur is most frequently used with these boy middle names: Wilbur Ray · Wilbur Earl · Wilbur Eugene · Wilbur Gene · Wilbur ThomasView all 192 boy middle names.
- Total 305 middle names used with Wilbur
- 31 girl middle names used with Wilbur
- 77 unisex middle names used with Wilbur
Middle name suggestions for WilburMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Wilbur is most frequently associated with boy middle names that have 2 syllables, Strong–Weak stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “j”.
Examples: Wilbur Jacob · Wilbur Jason · Wilbur Jesus · Wilbur Jerry · Wilbur Jared. View all 114 suggested middle names.
Names Similar to Wilbur
Sound Like Wilbur Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Wilber
Spelled Like Wilbur Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Wilburn · Wilburt · Wilber
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: William · Walter · Willie · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Wilbur Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Christopher · Alexander · Peter · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Robert · Michael · William · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Wilbur”
Dictionary Meaning of "Wilbur"Methodology
A surname originating as a matronymic
A male given name transferred from the surname
A stereotypical given name for a pig
More Info
How to Spell Wilbur in ASL
- W
- i
- l
- b
- u
- r
Comments on the name Wilbur
Community CommentsShowing 5 of 19 comments
Crazyldevil
In 2018, 82 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Wilbur who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 1, 231st most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
Dr_joker505
The name Wilbur was given to 29 boys born in the US in 2015.
J_worn_ikov
Wilbur was among the top 1,000 for boys in the United States from the 1880s to the 1970s, with its peak of popularity being in 1910 (96th position). I don't really like this name, to be honest, and I cannot see it making a comeback any time soon. It looks like E. B. White was right to give this name to the pig (in its literal meaning) in his novel Charlotte's Web, which may have contributed to its unpopularity in recent decades.
Ultrapower26
Wilbur Sweatman (1882 – 1961) was an American ragtime and dixieland jazz composer, bandleader and clarinetist. Sweatman was one of the first African-American musicians to have fans nationwide. He was also a trailblazer in the racial integration of musical groups.
Pk_monkey_mo
Wilbur Schramm (1907–1987), American journalist and academic sometimes called the "father of communication studies". He founded the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1935 and served as its first director until 1941. Schramm was hugely influential in establishing communications as a field of study in the United States, and the establishing of departments of communication studies across U.S. universities. Wilbur Schramm is considered the founder of the field of Communication Studies. He was the first individual to identify himself as a communication scholar; he created the first academic degree-granting programs with communication in their name; and he trained the first generation of communication scholars. Schramm's mass communication program in the Iowa School of Journalism was a pilot project for the doctoral program and for the Institute of Communications Research, which he founded in 1947 at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, now housed in the UIUC College of Media. At Illinois, Wilbur Schramm set in motion the patterns of scholarly work in communication study that continue to this day.