Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2005

Wil

Meaning A male given name, variant of Will Gender Boy Rank 2025 #13,797

A male given name, variant of Will.

Rank 2025
#13,797
among boys · ↓2,930 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
5
named Wil
How common
1 in 341,615
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2005
48 babies
All-time total
1,094
#4,844 all-time among boys
First recorded
1953
in Social Security records

Wil popularity over time

1,094 babies have been named Wil since 1953, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2003Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s 5 1 – #4,325
1960s 32 3 +540% #2,851
1970s 63 6 +97% #2,889
1980s 126 13 +100% #2,142
1990s 312 31 +148% #2,124
2000s 358 36 +15% #2,309
2010s 153 15 -57% #4,090
2020s (to 2025) 45 8 -51% #7,233

The story of Wil

Wil is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,797 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1953, 1,094 American babies have been named Wil. Its peak came in 2005, when 48 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wil stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Wil?

The median living Wil is about 25 years old; half are between 18 and 33. An estimated 1,100 people named Wil are alive in the United States today.

median 25 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Wil year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 5 #13,797
2024 7 #10,867
2023 6 #12,169
2022 12 #7,233
2021 8 #9,648
2020 7 #10,547
2019 10 #8,179
2018 7 #10,695
2017 13 #6,652
2016 19 #5,116
2015 19 #5,050
2014 12 #7,027
2013 18 #5,160
2012 15 #5,978
2011 15 #5,931
2010 25 #4,090
2009 19 #5,090
2008 25 #4,135
2007 38 #3,086
2006 40 #2,877
2005 48 #2,430
2004 38 #2,787
2003 47 #2,309
2002 27 #3,343
2001 36 #2,678
2000 40 #2,424
1995 29 #2,623
1990 30 #2,370
1985 11 #4,040
1980 7 #5,511
1975 – –
1970 12 #2,889
1965 6 #3,920
1960 5 #4,580
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Wil

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Wil Wheaton Wil Wheaton American actor (born 1972) Contemporary
  2. 2 Wil van Gogh Wil van Gogh Sister of Vincent van Gogh (1862–1941) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Wil, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Wil?

The median living Wil is about 25 years old. Half of all living Wils are between 18 and 33 years old.

How many people named Wil are alive today?

An estimated 1,100 people named Wil are alive in the United States, based on 1,094 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Wil mean?

A male given name, variant of Will.

How popular is the name Wil in 2025?

Wil ranked #13,797 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Wil?

1,094 babies have been named Wil in the United States since 1953, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Wil most popular?

Wil peaked in 2005, when 48 newborns received the name.

Is Wil a boy or girl name?

Wil is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Wil rising or falling?

Wil is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Wil?

Well-known people named Wil include Wil Wheaton (actor), Wil van Gogh (celebrity).

Names like Wil

Names that sound and feel close to Wil: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Wil with similar names → More names starting with W →