Wilber
Boy name · #3951 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Wilber? In official American birth records, Wilber has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Wilber is currently the #3951 boy name in the United States — 27 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2919, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 boys born in 2025 was named Wilber.
The 145-year story
Wilber first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 23 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1919, when 162 boys were named Wilber — good for #468 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.
Babies named Wilber per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wilber against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wilber in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wilber is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Wilber will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Wilber is most common
State-level data for Wilber is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Wilber
Statistically, parents drawn to Wilber tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Wilmer, Omer, Gustav, Mahlon, and Christ.
WilmerOmerGustavMahlonChristWarnerMckinleyTillman
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wilber | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #3949 |
| 2024 | 25 | #4200 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3474 |
| 2022 | 38 | #3151 |
| 2021 | 27 | #3912 |
| 2020 | 40 | #2925 |
| 2019 | 26 | #4003 |
| 2018 | 42 | #2848 |
| 2017 | 29 | #3678 |
| 2016 | 35 | #3230 |
| 2015 | 40 | #2919 |
| 2014 | 40 | #2885 |
| 2013 | 40 | #2848 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3002 |
| 2011 | 42 | #2798 |
| 2010 | 53 | #2375 |
| 2009 | 41 | #2894 |
| 2008 | 68 | #2039 |
| 2007 | 56 | #2304 |
| 2006 | 81 | #1724 |
| 2005 | 53 | #2237 |
| 2004 | 60 | #1989 |
| 2003 | 61 | #1906 |
| 2002 | 47 | #2224 |
| 2001 | 47 | #2185 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Wilber?
In official American birth records, the name Wilber first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 23 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Wilber a popular boy name?
Wilber ranked #3951 among boys in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2919.
When was the name Wilber most popular?
Wilber peaked in 1919, when 162 American boys received the name (ranked #468 that year). Since 1919 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wilber?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American boys was named Wilber. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.