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Home › Baby Names Directory › Wilmot

Wilmot

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIL-muht /ˈwɪlmət/High

Meaning: Wilmot is an affectionate medieval form of William, made by adding the Old French diminutive ending -ot to Will. William itself joins the Germanic elements wil, 'will' or 'desire', and helm, 'helmet' or 'protection', giving 'resolute protector'. Wilmot later became a surname and, occasionally, a given name in its own right.Medium

In 30 seconds: Wilmot is a medieval pet form of William, from Germanic 'will' and 'protection'. It saw light use for American boys near 1916 (said WIL-muht).
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Origin MediumEnglish, Germanic
MeaningWilmot is an affectionate medieval form of William, made by adding the Old French diminutive ending -ot to Will. William itself joins the Germanic elements wil, 'will' or 'desire', and helm, 'helmet' or 'protection', giving 'resolute protector'. Wilmot later became a surname and, occasionally, a given name in its own right.
U.S. rank (1993)#10116 ↘ Falling
1993 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 454

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191619061993

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Wilmot began as a medieval nickname for William, Will plus the French pet ending -ot, and carries the same Germanic sense of 'will' and 'helmet' or 'protection'. Over time it settled as a surname, borne notably by the seventeenth-century Earl of Rochester, and was revived here and there as a first name.

As a given name in America it was always rare, reaching only a couple dozen boys a year around its high in the mid nineteen-teens. It reads as an antique, faintly aristocratic English name today.

Did you know? Wilmot is really 'little William', an old diminutive that outlived its parent's fashion and turned into a surname.
Overall data confidence 60%
References - Wilmot / William — Diminutive of William; Germanic wil + helm

Variations

WillmottWilmottWillmot

Nicknames

WillWil

Famous Bearers

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If you like Wilmot…

William— the parent name Wilmot shortens
Wilmer— a like William-derived boy's name
Willard— a similar old Will- name
Wilfred— another vintage Germanic Will/Wil name

Explore names like Wilmot

By themeenglishvintagegermanic

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Wilmot mean?

It's a medieval diminutive of William, from Germanic words meaning 'will' and 'helmet' or 'protection'.

How do you pronounce Wilmot?

It's said WIL-muht /ˈwɪlmət/, two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Wilmot a boy or girl name?

Wilmot is used as a boy's name.

Is Wilmot a popular name?

No, it has always been rare, an antique form of William used lightly for boys in the early twentieth century.

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