Wilber
Wilber was the 4039th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 27 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 322nd; the most babies were born in 1919 (162). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,076 places. More babies were named Wilber in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Wilbur) Meaning disputed · Old English, Germanic
- Rank in 2025
- #4,039 boys, down 1,061 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 27boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1919162 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,902babies recorded
What does the name Wilber mean?
Wilber is a spelling of Wilbur, pronounced the same way, so it shares Wilbur's meaning and origin.
Wilbur is an English surname used as a first name, and its origin is disputed. Wiktionary derives it from the Old English woman's name Wilburg, from wil, "will, desire", and burh, "fortress". Wikipedia reports that the most accepted theory instead combines Germanic words for "wild" and "boar". The name is best known from Wilbur Wright, co-inventor of the airplane, and from the pig in Charlotte's Web.
Wilburg (Old English, “wil "will" + burh "fortress"”)
How sure is this? Disputed. Two different etymologies are proposed: "will + fortress" (from the female name Wilburg) and "wild + boar".
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Wilbur', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Wilbur (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Wilber popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 11 since 1929.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,039 | 27 |
| 2020 | #2,978 | 40 |
| 2010 | #2,399 | 53 |
| 2000 | #2,255 | 44 |
| 1990 | #2,047 | 37 |
| 1980 | #3,093 | 15 |
| 1970 | #3,513 | 9 |
| 1960 | #2,206 | 15 |
| 1950 | #1,339 | 30 |
| 1940 | #645 | 87 |
| 1930 | #493 | 146 |
| 1920 | #492 | 151 |
| 1910 | #473 | 35 |
| 1900 | #412 | 31 |
| 1890 | #487 | 16 |
| 1880 | #362 | 23 |
How popular is Wilber, counting every spelling?
Wilber is a spelling of Wilbur, a name family that had 54 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 54 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilbur | 27 | #4,040 | 157 |
| Wilber | 27 | #4,039 | 150 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Wilber?
27 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Wilber (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Wilber born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 310 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Wilber.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Wilber?
About 2,500 people born in the US named Wilber are alive today, with a median age of 30; half are between 18 and 64. That makes Wilber mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Wilber by state
How common Wilber was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 47 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Wilber: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Wilber, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Wilber
What does Wilber mean?
The meaning of Wilbur is disputed: two different etymologies are proposed: "will + fortress" (from the female name Wilburg) and "wild + boar".
How popular is the name Wilber?
Wilber was the 4039th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 27 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 322nd; the most babies were born in 1919 (162). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,076 places. More babies were named Wilber in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Wilber a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Wilber in the US.
Where is Wilber most popular?
In 2021–2025, Wilber was most common in Massachusetts (0.04 per 1,000 boys), followed by Virginia and California.