Wilson
- Meaning
- Son of Will
- Origin
- English
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What does Wilson mean?
Wilson means “Son of Will”.
Wilson began as a patronymic surname meaning “son of Will,” with Will serving as a short form of William. The deeper William name combines elements associated with will or desire and a helmet or protection. Wilson itself, however, describes a family relationship, so “son of Will” is the clearest immediate meaning.
Soul singer Wilson Pickett and author Wilson Rawls are examples of Wilson used as a first name. The surname also appears widely across public life, which can give the given name a familiar feel even without a personal namesake. Will offers an easy short form, and Willson is an alternative surname spelling. Its established history makes it more than a recent invention from William.
Nicknames & variations
Explore short forms, spellings, and related names.
Nicknames for Wilson
Short forms for everyday use.
Variations & related forms
Related forms and spellings recorded for this name.
How popular is Wilson?
United States · 2025Explore how often Wilson is used and how its ranking has changed.
- US boys rank
- #673 2025 · #1 is most popular
- Boys named Wilson
- 405 Recorded births in 2025
- Change in births
- 6.2% Fewer than 2024
Wilson over time
United States · Boys
Recorded births
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Yearly data & usage
Rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys. The summary highlights boys, the most common recorded usage in 2025. Use the chart’s usage selector to explore both categories.
| Year | Usage | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | #673 | 405 |
| 2024 | Boys | #645 | 432 |
| 2023 | Boys | #675 | 404 |
| 2022 | Boys | #689 | 387 |
| 2021 | Boys | #710 | 370 |
| 2021 | Girls | #15,139 | 6 |
| 2020 | Boys | #656 | 402 |
| 2020 | Girls | #17,388 | 5 |
| 2019 | Boys | #645 | 417 |
| 2018 | Boys | #619 | 433 |
| 2018 | Girls | #15,582 | 6 |
| 2017 | Boys | #642 | 404 |
| 2017 | Girls | #18,308 | 5 |
| 2016 | Boys | #615 | 439 |
| 2015 | Boys | #621 | 433 |
| 2015 | Girls | #18,973 | 5 |
| 2014 | Boys | #597 | 461 |
| 2014 | Girls | #19,074 | 5 |
Years reflect available birth records. Missing records do not mean zero births.
Names like Wilson
Explore the connection, then save your favorites to compare.
Will
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Will and protection, through William
Listed as a related name to Wilson.
James
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Supplanter
Shares an origin with Wilson.
Jack
Mostly boys- Meaning
- God is gracious
Shares an origin with Wilson.
Hudson
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Hugh's son
Shares an origin with Wilson.
Julian
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Uncertain; proposed meanings include youthful or downy-bearded
Shares an origin with Wilson.
Cooper
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Barrel maker
Shares an origin with Wilson.
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