Wilson Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Wilson is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Wilson?
Wilson is spelled W-I-L-S-O-N. The name has 6 letters.
Wilson at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Wilson means “son of Will,” where “Will” is a short form of the given name William.
- Origin
- Wilson is a patronymic surname from medieval England and Scotland that indicates “son of Will” or “son of William.”
- Pronunciation
- WIL-suhn · 2 syllables
Wilson Popularity in 2025
Rank#672
Recorded Births405
- Boys usage fell 28 places to #672 and recorded 27 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Wilson Mean?
Wilson means “son of Will,” where “Will” is a short form of the given name William.
Origin: Wilson is a patronymic surname from medieval England and Scotland that indicates “son of Will” or “son of William.”
How Do You Pronounce Wilson?
PronunciationWIL-suhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Wilson?
- History
- Wilson has been used as both a surname and given name in English-speaking countries and appears in official records from the Middle Ages onward.
Wilson Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2009 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 405 | #672 |
| 2024 | Boys | 432 | #644 |
| 2023 | Boys | 404 | #672 |
| 2022 | Boys | 387 | #689 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6 | #13,464 |
| 2021 | Boys | 370 | #709 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5 | #15,088 |
| 2020 | Boys | 402 | #655 |
| 2019 | Boys | 417 | #644 |
| 2018 | Girls | 6 | #13,793 |
| 2018 | Boys | 433 | #618 |
| 2017 | Girls | 5 | #15,902 |
| 2017 | Boys | 404 | #638 |
| 2016 | Boys | 439 | #612 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5 | #16,419 |
| 2015 | Boys | 433 | #620 |
| 2014 | Girls | 5 | #16,513 |
| 2014 | Boys | 461 | #596 |
| 2013 | Girls | 6 | #14,582 |
| 2013 | Boys | 391 | #630 |
| 2012 | Boys | 422 | #599 |
| 2011 | Boys | 409 | #601 |
| 2010 | Boys | 429 | #584 |
| 2009 | Boys | 488 | #540 |
When Was Wilson Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1918 · Boys
1,381 recorded births
National rank #122
1917 · Boys
921 recorded births
National rank #144
1916 · Boys
912 recorded births
National rank #141
1919 · Boys
853 recorded births
National rank #155
Where Wilson Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MS | #333 | 9 |
| AR | #398 | 8 |
| ID | #435 | 5 |
| MA | #438 | 11 |
| AL | #450 | 11 |
| KY | #450 | 10 |
| TN | #452 | 17 |
| MO | #457 | 13 |