Holding steady.
Popularity of Filbert since 1915
Babies named Filbert per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Filbert's real moment was 1938.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 37 |
| 1920s | 66 |
| 1930s | 76 |
| 1940s | 76 |
| 1950s | 90 |
| 1960s | 50 |
| 1970s | 41 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Filbert is an obscure masculine name with Germanic origins, never having appeared in the U.S. top 1000. Its earliest recorded usage in Social Security data dates to 1915, but it reached its peak year of usage in 1938. Since then, the name has remained extremely rare, with no consistent trend upward or downward; it is best described as stable but very low in frequency. No top states are associated with Filbert, suggesting its use is scattered and not regionally concentrated. The name's similarity to the nut may give it a rustic, antique charm, but it has never crossed into mainstream awareness.
Filbert is generally considered a variant of Philbert, which derives from the Old German elements 'filu' (very) and 'beraht' (bright/famous). The spelling with an 'F' likely arose in medieval England through dialectal variation. It has been used sporadically in English-speaking countries since the 19th century, though it never achieved widespread popularity. The name also coincides with the filbert nut, possibly reinforcing its occasional use in rural areas.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Fil, Bert, Bertie
Variants: Philbert, Filberto (Italian/Spanish)
Sibling names for Filbert
Names that share Filbert's style, for a brother or sister.
