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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Son of Will (William)
- Origin
- English (patronymic surname)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- WIL-sun
Wilson is an English patronymic surname that literally means 'son of Will' — short for William — making it a straightforward, timeless, classic pick. You may have heard it explained as 'son of Walter' or even 'son of water,' but that's a mix-up with a different surname; Wilson's own root is Will plus son, nothing more. It's pronounced WIL-sun.
Meaning & Origin of Wilson
Meaning: Son of Will (William).
Origin: English (patronymic surname).
A common claim: Sometimes said to mean 'son of Walter' or 'son of water' instead of 'son of William.' Actually: Wilson derives from Will (short for William) + son, meaning 'son of William' — not 'son of Walter,' which appears to be a mix-up with a different surname.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Wilson
WIL-sunIPA /ˈwɪlsən/
Popularity of Wilson
SSA records for Wilson run from 1880 to 2024, with the name peaking at #122 in 1913 (659 boys) and landing at #644 in 2024 (431 boys).
Names Like Wilson
These names share Wilson’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Wilson mean?
Son of Will (William). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Wilson?
Wilson is pronounced WIL-sun (IPA: /ˈwɪlsən/).
Is Wilson a popular name right now?
Wilson peaked at #122 in 1913 and is ranked #644 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Wilson Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Wilson, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
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