Wilber Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Wilber originates from Old English and means 'resolute, bright will'. It evolved from the historical form 'Wilburh' and has been associated with strong, determined traits. There is no biblical relevance linked to this name, but it gained popularity during the 19th century due to influential figures like William Wilberforce.
The name Wilber is most popular in Nebraska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Wilber has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Wilber' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 496th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 670th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1357th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2533rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2504th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2323rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3297th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8681st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Wilber' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wilber"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪlbər/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Wilber is derived from the Old English name 'Wilburh', which combines the elements 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'berht' meaning 'bright' or 'famous'.
Meaning
resolute, bright will
Language Evolution
Wilburh, Wilber
Historical Usage
Wilber gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, influenced by notable figures such as abolitionist William Wilberforce.
Variants & Derivatives
Wilbur, Wil, Will
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Wilber is perceived as a traditional name that carries a sense of strength and determination.
Famous People
William Wilberforce, Wilber Smith, Wilber Pan
Explore More Wilber Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wilber"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Wilber"
"Wilber" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 496th of 7545 | 2,439 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 670th of 6773 | 1,576 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1357th of 7552 | 621 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2533rd of 10718 | 238 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2504th of 16616 | 401 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2323rd of 24088 | 799 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3297th of 23106 | 415 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8681st of 9204 | 6 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Wilber" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
26.98% 382nd/1416 |
43.51% 600th/1379 |
21.64% 512th/2366 |
62.70% 716th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
38.10% 589th/1546 |
56.56% 880th/1556 |
26.60% 626th/2353 |
67.87% 1050th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
53.44% 1190th/2227 |
- |
55.49% 1583rd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
42.70% 1911th/4475 |
50.79% 2638th/5194 |
22.97% 1451st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
37.26% 1924th/5164 |
27.95% 2044th/7313 |
23.13% 1726th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
83.98% 3768th/4487 |
40.77% 2781st/6822 |
35.13% 2205th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Wilber" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Wilber"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wilber" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.