Wilson
Wilson is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Son of Will or son of William.
Origin and history
Wilson originated as an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Will' or 'son of William'. Historically popular as a given name in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it remains a steady, classical choice in the United States today.
Popularity in the United States
48,807 babies in the United States have been named Wilson since 1880. It ranks #519 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #657.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.3 %)
- CA (7.6 %)
- TX (6.8 %)
- LA (6.1 %)
- NC (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 660 |
| 1890-1900 | 597 |
| 1900-1910 | 759 |
| 1910-1920 | 6,835 |
| 1920-1930 | 5,022 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,696 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,359 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,383 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,660 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,308 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,862 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,144 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,884 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,238 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,400 |
Famous people named Wilson
- Wilson Pickett: Singer, Songwriter
- Wilson Betemit: Baseball Player
- Wilson Chandler: Basketball Player
Nicknames
Will, Willy
Fun facts
- The name originally developed in medieval England as a way to identify the offspring of a man named Will.
- Wilson was among the top 100 given names for boys in the United States around the turn of the 20th century.