Wilbur

At a Glance

Meaning

Will joined with fortress

Origin

Old English (surname, from the female name Wilburg)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

WIL-berListen

Wilbur is an Old English surname name, built from wil ('will') and burh ('fortress') — so it literally reads as something like 'will' plus 'stronghold.' You may see baby-name lists claim it means 'bright' or 'resolute,' but that doesn't match the actual roots. If you're drawn to Wilbur, it's for the name itself rather than a tidy modern meaning.

Meaning & Origin of Wilbur

Meaning: Will joined with fortress.

Origin: Old English (surname, from the female name Wilburg).

A common claim: Baby-name listicles often gloss Wilbur as meaning 'bright' or 'resolute.' Actually: That doesn't match the attested roots — Wilbur comes from wil ('will') plus burh ('fortress'), so 'will' plus 'stronghold,' not 'bright, resolute.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Wilbur

Popularity of Wilbur

Wilbur peaked at #91 in 1913, with 1,044 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had fallen all the way to #2986, with just 42 babies — a name that was genuinely common a century ago and is now rare.

Names Like Wilbur

These names have followed a similar path to Wilbur in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Amelio
• Asta
• Willard
• Erling
• Olen
• Silvio

FAQ

What does the name Wilbur mean?

Will joined with fortress. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Wilbur?

Wilbur is pronounced WIL-ber (IPA: /ˈwɪlbər/).

Is Wilbur a popular name right now?

Wilbur peaked at #91 in 1913 and is ranked #2986 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Wilbur Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Wilbur, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.