Find out how popular the first name Wilson has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Wilson by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Wilson is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Wilson being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 404 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Wilson.

The history of the first name Wilson

The name Wilson is an English given name derived from the surname Wilson, which is itself derived from the Old English words "will" and "sun", meaning "son of Will" or "son of William". The name originated in England during the Middle Ages, likely as a way to identify the son of a person named William or Will.

In terms of historical references, the name Wilson is not found in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it does appear in various historical records and documents from the medieval period onwards, particularly in England and other English-speaking regions.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Wilson as a given name dates back to the late 16th century. A notable figure from this time period is Wilson Raleigh, an English author and poet who lived from around 1551 to 1622.

In the 17th century, the name Wilson gained some prominence with individuals like Wilson Cary (1594-1677), an English politician and member of Parliament during the English Civil War. Another notable figure from this era is Wilson Higginson (1631-1670), an English theologian and author.

The 18th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals with the name Wilson, including Wilson Ritchie (1713-1783), a Scottish philosopher and academic, and Wilson Hogarth (1697-1764), an English painter and engraver known for his satirical works.

In the 19th century, the name Wilson continued to be used, with individuals such as Wilson Peel (1823-1891), a British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Wilson Stevenson (1838-1905), a Scottish-American inventor and engineer who helped develop the modern lighthouse lens system.

Other notable figures with the name Wilson include Wilson Pickett (1941-2006), an American singer and songwriter known as a pioneer of soul music, and Wilson Keppel (1925-1994), a British actor and comedian who appeared in numerous films and television shows.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Wilson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wilson, please contact us.

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