Wilton Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Wilton is an Old English name meaning 'the town of desire' derived from the elements 'wīl' and 'tūn'. It has evolved from Wīltūn in Old English to its modern form. The name reflects traits of stability and heritage, with no significant biblical relevance. It gained popularity as both a place name and surname in medieval England.
The name Wilton is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South 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, Wilton 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, 'Wilton' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 458th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 529th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 789th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1257th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2116th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3866th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5339th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5908th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8072nd out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Wilton' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wilton"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪltən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Wilton is derived from the Old English elements 'wīl' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'tūn' meaning 'town' or 'settlement'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'the town of desire' or 'the settlement of will'.
Meaning
town of desire
Language Evolution
Wīltūn (Old English), Wilton (Middle English), Wilton (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Wilton gained popularity in England as a place name and was later adopted as a given name. Its use as a surname can be traced back to the medieval period.
Variants & Derivatives
Wil, Willy, Wiltonia
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Wilton is perceived as a traditional and classic name, often associated with values of stability and heritage. It is less common as a first name but remains recognized as a surname.
Famous People
Wilton Gregory (American Cardinal), Wilton P. Webster (American politician)
Explore More Wilton Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wilton"
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 "Wilton"
"Wilton" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 458th of 7545 | 2,723 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 529th of 6773 | 2,292 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 789th of 7552 | 1,656 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1257th of 10718 | 719 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2116th of 16616 | 508 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3866th of 24088 | 375 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5339th of 23106 | 207 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5908th of 9107 | 31 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8072nd of 9204 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Wilton" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
45.27% 641st/1416 |
49.60% 684th/1379 |
13.27% 314th/2366 |
81.87% 935th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
67.27% 1040th/1546 |
64.20% 999th/1556 |
15.64% 368th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
50.29% 1222nd/2430 |
20.05% 572nd/2853 |
52.76% 1464th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
50.82% 1770th/3483 |
24.50% 862nd/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
44.20% 1978th/4475 |
40.91% 2125th/5194 |
41.36% 2613th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
60.11% 4396th/7313 |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Wilton" 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 "Wilton"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wilton" 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.