Wilson
/ˈwɪl.sən/
Wilson is an English patronymic surname meaning “son of Will,” with Will being a short form of William, from Old German Willahelm combining willa (“will, desire”) and helm (“helmet, protection”).
As a given name, Wilson surged in the early 20th century when President Woodrow Wilson (served 1913-1921) was in office. Naming children after sitting presidents was a common American practice.
Wilson peaked at No. 122 in 1913 with 659 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 644 with 431 births—a raw count far exceeding its early-century numbers.
What the name Wilson means
The volleyball named Wilson in the film Cast Away (2000) gave the name an unlikely cultural moment. Owens Wilson keeps it in entertainment, while Wilson Pickett carries it in soul music.
Two syllables—WIL-sun—sound grounded and traditional. The liquid l interior and the open close give it the comfortable familiarity of all -son surnames used as given names.
Parents choosing Wilson today are part of the broader surname-as-given-name trend that has revived Mason, Harrison, and Jefferson as first names.
The name belongs to the same family as William, Will, and Willis—sharing Germanic roots but arriving via the English patronymic tradition.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Wilson
Wilson - similar names
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