Wilbur

Wilbur is a male first name whose origin has not yet been conclusively clarified. It could represent an English variant of the name Wilbert.

What does the name Wilbur mean?

The name Wilbur has a disputed origin. It could be interpreted as an English derivation of Wilbert. It is significant as 'the one with a radiant will' or 'the will of the famous'. The origins lie in Old High German and consist of the elements willio, which means 'the will' or 'determination', and beraht, which means 'radiant', 'shining', or 'famous'. Additionally, Wilbur could also be an Anglo-American first name derived from the surnames Wildbor or Wildeboer. Wildbor is translated as 'the wild boar' in Middle English, while Wildeboer comes from a mix of German and Dutch and can be interpreted as 'the foreign land dweller'. The name is also used as a surname. A prominent example is Wilbur Wright, who, along with his brother, developed the first successful airplane in the 20th century. The name Wilbur is particularly common in English-speaking countries, especially in the USA.

Where does the name Wilbur come from?

The origin of the name Wilbur is Old High German and means 'the one with a radiant will' or 'the will of the famous'.

How do you pronounce Wilbur?

The pronunciation of Wilbur is soft and two-syllable. It is usually pronounced as 'Wil-bur' [ˈvɪlbɐ], with the darker emphasis on the second syllable giving the name a certain grounding. The ending on '-r' provides a deeper tone and a gentle resonance. Wilbur conveys an international and friendly impression – a name with clear structure and calm radiance.

Popularity

In Germany, Wilbur is a rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,840th in the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2010 at 2,204th. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 10 times as a first name, which places it at 6,380th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 5,330th.

Nicknames & pet names

Wil / Will / Willi

Famous people

• Wilbur A. Smith (British author)
• Wilbur Addison Smith (British author)
• Wilbur Bass (American rapper)
• Wilbur Coen (American tennis player)
• Wilbur Cortez Abbott (American historian)
• Wilbur Daniel Steele (American author)
• Wilbur Dawbarn (English illustrator)
• Wilbur de Paris (Musician from the USA)
• Wilbur Fitzgerald (Actor from the USA)
• Wilbur Harden (Jazz musician from America)
• Wilbur Hatch (American composer)
• Wilbur Henry Siebert (Historian from the USA)
• Wilbur Higby (American actor)
• Wilbur Holland (American basketball player)
• Wilbur Howard (Baseball player from the USA)
• Wilbur Huckle (Baseball player)
• Wilbur Knorr (American historian)
• Wilbur R. Franks (Doctor from Canada)
• Wilbur Schramm (American author)
• Wilbur Schwartz (Musician from France)