Wilkes

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Wilkes Pronunciation

Wilkes is pronounced WILKS /ˈwɪlks/High

Meaning: From an English surname — 'son of Wilkin', a diminutive of William, 'resolute protector'Medium

In 30 seconds: Crisp and surname-cool: Wilkes is 'son of little William' — 'resolute protector'. Snappy, Southern-flavored, and strong.

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Origin MediumGerman, English

MeaningFrom an English surname — 'son of Wilkin', a diminutive of William, 'resolute protector'

U.S. rank (2024)#4404 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births24 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 298

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Wilkes comes from an English surname — 'son of Wilkin', a medieval diminutive of William, from Germanic wil, 'will', plus helm, 'protection' — 'resolute protector'. A crisp, strong surname-name.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, son-of-little-William at the root, and snappy.

Did you know? Wilkes means 'son of Wilkin' (little William, 'resolute protector') — a crisp surname-name with a Southern-gentleman ring (Ashley Wilkes of Gone with the Wind).

Overall data confidence 72%

Surname references — Wilkes — etymology

Variations

WilkesWilkin

Nicknames

Will

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Wilkes…

Banks— a fellow -s surname-name

Brooks— a companion -s name

Hayes— another crisp surname-name

Welles— another English name

Niles— another English name

→ See all names like Wilkes

Browse the whole category: All German names → · All English names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Wilkes?

Wilkes is pronounced WILKS (/ˈwɪlks/). Press play above to hear Wilkes said aloud.

How do you say Wilkes?

Wilkes is said WILKS (/ˈwɪlks/). Press play above to hear Wilkes said aloud.

What does the name Wilkes mean?

Wilkes is English for 'son of Wilkin (little William)' — 'resolute protector'.

Is Wilkes a boy or girl name?

Wilkes is a boy's name.

How popular is Wilkes?

Wilkes is a rare name in the U.S.