Wilson
Boy name · #672 in 2025 · Uniqueness 58/100
Wilson ranks #672 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 405 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #620, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,444 boys born in 2025 was named Wilson.
Babies named Wilson per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Wilson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 72 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 1,381 boys were named Wilson — good for #122 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wilson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wilson in class?
Wilson scores 58 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Wilson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Wilson is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Wilsons were CA (42), TX (32), GA (20), NC (18), NY (18). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Wilson
Statistically, parents drawn to Wilson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reuben, Anton, Walton, Edwin, and Henderson.
ReubenAntonWaltonEdwinHendersonWilmerJuniorJulius
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wilson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 405 | #672 |
| 2024 | 432 | #644 |
| 2023 | 404 | #672 |
| 2022 | 387 | #689 |
| 2021 | 370 | #709 |
| 2020 | 402 | #655 |
| 2019 | 417 | #644 |
| 2018 | 433 | #618 |
| 2017 | 404 | #638 |
| 2016 | 439 | #612 |
| 2015 | 433 | #620 |
| 2014 | 461 | #596 |
| 2013 | 391 | #630 |
| 2012 | 422 | #599 |
| 2011 | 409 | #601 |
| 2010 | 429 | #584 |
| 2009 | 488 | #540 |
| 2008 | 492 | #538 |
| 2007 | 473 | #541 |
| 2006 | 507 | #511 |
| 2005 | 516 | #483 |
| 2004 | 547 | #465 |
| 2003 | 468 | #514 |
| 2002 | 509 | #469 |
| 2001 | 463 | #496 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wilson a popular boy name?
Wilson ranked #672 among boys in 2025 with 405 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #620.
When was the name Wilson most popular?
Wilson peaked in 1918, when 1,381 American boys received the name (ranked #122 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wilson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,444 newborn American boys was named Wilson. It scores 58/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.