Wilson

Meaning of Wilson

Wilson means "son of Will." Will is a short form of William, so it ultimately means "son of William."

Wilson has English roots — browse every English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Wilson

Wilson has cooled off, slipping to #673 in 2025, down from a peak of #465 in 2004.

Notable people named Wilson

• Woodrow Wilson
  28th U.S. President
• Owen Wilson
  American actor and comedian
• Brian Wilson
  Beach Boys musician
• Luke Wilson
  American actor
• Robert Anton Wilson
  American author, futurist

More English names

Questions about the name Wilson

What does the name Wilson mean?

Wilson means wilson means "son of will." will is a short form of william, so it ultimately means "son of william.", and it comes from English origins.

Is Wilson a boy's or a girl's name?

Wilson is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Wilson?

In 2025, Wilson ranked #673 for boys, down from #644 the year before.

When was Wilson most popular?

Wilson peaked at #465 in 2004.