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Wilbur

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIL-ber /ˈwɪl.bər/High

Meaning: Bright desire or will and fortress; from the Old High German Willbeorht or a variant of Wilburh, composed of wil meaning desire or will and beorht meaning bright or burh meaning fortressMedium

In 30 seconds: Wilbur is a venerable Old English and Germanic name meaning bright will or fortified desire. A staple of early 20th-century America, it is the name of both an aviation pioneer and Charlotte's Web's beloved pig.
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Origin MediumGermanic, Old English
MeaningBright desire or will and fortress; from the Old High German Willbeorht or a variant of Wilburh, composed of wil meaning desire or will and beorht meaning bright or burh meaning fortress
U.S. rank (2024)#2986 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births42 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 56,880

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191818802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Wilbur is derived from Old English or Old German elements. One theory traces it to Willbeorht, meaning bright will, from wil (desire, will) and beorht (bright). Another relates it to a place name meaning fortified settlement. As a personal name it appears in England and America from the medieval period onward.

Wilbur peaked in popularity in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, partly due to Wilbur Wright (1867–1912), co-inventor of the airplane with his brother Orville. The name has a warm, sturdy vintage quality and is occasionally revived by parents drawn to antique names with great American associations.

Did you know? E. B. White named the pig in Charlotte's Web Wilbur — and White later said he chose the name because it sounded warm and old-fashioned, exactly the qualities that define the name's gentle vintage charm.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name — Wilbur — Germanic etymology and usage historyEncyclopedia Britannica — Wright Brothers — notable bearer Wilbur Wright

Variations

WilberWill

Nicknames

WillWillieWil

Famous Bearers

  • ★Wilbur Wright (1867–1912)
    American aviation pioneer who, with his brother Orville, invented and flew the world's first successful powered airplane at Kitty Hawk in 1903.

If you like Wilbur…

Walter— same sturdy Germanic vintage feel with the Wil- beginning
Gilbert— fellow Old Germanic two-syllable name with the bright element
Arlo— shares the warm, offbeat vintage American quality
Homer— same beloved literary animal-name association and antique charm

Frequently Asked

What does the name Wilbur mean?

Wilbur likely means bright will or bright desire, from Old High German elements wil (will, desire) and beorht (bright).

How do you pronounce Wilbur?

It is said WIL-ber, two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Wilbur a boy or girl name?

Wilbur is used exclusively as a boys name.

How popular is Wilbur?

Wilbur was most popular in the United States in the early 20th century and is now a rare but recognizable vintage name occasionally chosen by parents who love antique names.