Declining since 1985, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Wilbert since 1880
Babies named Wilbert per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Wilbert's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 256 |
| 1890s | 359 |
| 1900s | 722 |
| 1910s | 5,275 |
| 1920s | 8,113 |
| 1930s | 6,164 |
| 1940s | 5,809 |
| 1950s | 5,147 |
| 1960s | 3,174 |
| 1970s | 1,811 |
| 1980s | 1,280 |
| 1990s | 824 |
| 2000s | 610 |
| 2010s | 345 |
| 2020s | 126 |
Meaning & origin
Wilbert is a Germanic compound name meaning 'bright will,' first recorded in the United States in 1880. It reached its peak rank in 1914, when it was most frequently given, and has since experienced a steady decline in usage. As of 2025, the name ranks 4,857 with a frequency of 1 in 85,404 newborns. Its falling trajectory has held since 1985, indicating that Wilbert is now a rare choice, even though it enjoyed moderate popularity in the early 20th century.
Wilbert derives from the Old High German elements 'willio' (will, desire) and 'beraht' (bright, famous). It is a rare given name in the English-speaking world, used from the late 19th century and occasionally seen in the 20th century. The name is cognate with the more common Wilber and shares roots with names like Gilbert and Robert.
Where Wilbert is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Wil, Bert, Willy
Variants: Wilber, Wilbart
Sibling names for Wilbert
Names that share Wilbert's style, for a brother or sister.
