Wilbur
From an Old English female given name Wilburg, from wil (“will”) + burh (“fortress”).
Every Wilbur since 1880 — 57,196 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Wilbur
Wilbur is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,040 in 2025 with 27 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 57,196 American babies have been named Wilbur. Its peak came in 1918, when 1,809 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
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 Wilbur stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Wilbur year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 27 | #4,040 |
| 2024 | — | — | 42 | #2,998 |
| 2023 | — | — | 33 | #3,560 |
| 2022 | — | — | 30 | #3,768 |
| 2021 | — | — | 25 | #4,233 |
| 2020 | — | — | 21 | #4,688 |
| 2019 | — | — | 37 | #3,192 |
| 2018 | — | — | 28 | #3,882 |
| 2017 | — | — | 28 | #3,883 |
| 2016 | — | — | 25 | #4,192 |
| 2015 | — | — | 30 | #3,679 |
| 2014 | — | — | 23 | #4,383 |
| 2013 | — | — | 22 | #4,456 |
| 2012 | — | — | 15 | #5,979 |
| 2011 | — | — | 21 | #4,648 |
| 2010 | — | — | 22 | #4,513 |
| 2009 | — | — | 24 | #4,270 |
| 2008 | — | — | 24 | #4,262 |
| 2007 | — | — | 28 | #3,790 |
| 2006 | — | — | 24 | #4,097 |
| 2005 | — | — | 19 | #4,627 |
| 2004 | — | — | 26 | #3,630 |
| 2003 | — | — | 29 | #3,274 |
| 2002 | — | — | 27 | #3,344 |
| 2001 | — | — | 28 | #3,224 |
| 2000 | — | — | 30 | #2,991 |
| 1995 | — | — | 41 | #2,054 |
| 1990 | — | — | 52 | #1,613 |
| 1985 | — | — | 80 | #1,032 |
| 1980 | — | — | 95 | #919 |
| 1975 | — | — | 122 | #757 |
| 1970 | — | — | 149 | #671 |
| 1965 | — | — | 255 | #485 |
| 1960 | — | — | 354 | #426 |
| 1955 | — | — | 435 | #346 |
| 1950 | — | — | 488 | #308 |
| 1945 | 5 | #5,221 | 508 | #259 |
| 1940 | 6 | #4,335 | 705 | #193 |
| 1935 | 8 | #3,423 | 861 | #166 |
| 1930 | 9 | #3,337 | 1,214 | #141 |
| 1925 | 12 | #2,934 | 1,597 | #110 |
| 1920 | 14 | #2,583 | 1,741 | #98 |
| 1915 | — | — | 1,685 | #92 |
| 1910 | — | — | 298 | #104 |
| 1905 | — | — | 167 | #132 |
| 1900 | — | — | 161 | #139 |
| 1895 | — | — | 125 | #133 |
| 1890 | — | — | 94 | #150 |
| 1885 | — | — | 92 | #148 |
| 1880 | — | — | 82 | #162 |
Famous people named Wilbur
- Wilbur Smith Writer · b. 1933
- Wilbur Scoville Biologist · 1865–1942
- Wilbur Ross Politician · b. 1937
- Wilbur Thompson Athlete · 1921–2013
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wilbur mean?
From an Old English female given name Wilburg, from wil (“will”) + burh (“fortress”).
How popular is the name Wilbur in 2025?
Wilbur ranked #4,040 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 27 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Wilbur?
57,196 babies have been named Wilbur in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Wilbur most popular?
Wilbur peaked in 1918, when 1,809 newborns received the name.
Is Wilbur a boy or girl name?
Wilbur is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Wilbur rising or falling?
Wilbur is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Wilbur?
Well-known people named Wilbur include Wilbur Smith (writer), Wilbur Scoville (biologist), Wilbur Ross (politician).