Rising since 2004, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Wilkes since 1916
Babies named Wilkes per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 12 |
| 1920s | 21 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 23 |
| 2010s | 125 |
| 2020s | 116 |
Meaning & origin
Wilkes is a rare masculine given name that has seen modest revival in the 21st century. First recorded in U.S. data in 1916, it remained infrequent for decades. Its popularity peaked in 2018, and since 2004 the name has been steadily rising in use, as of 2025 reaching a rank of 4,857 with approximately 1 in 85,404 male births. The name's top state is Georgia, reflecting a possible Southern affinity. Despite its historical surname associations, Wilkes is gaining traction as a distinctive first name for boys.
Wilkes is a medieval English surname derived from the given name Wilkin, a diminutive of Will (a short form of William) combined with the suffix -kin. The name William itself comes from the Germanic elements wil 'will, desire' and helm 'helmet, protection'. As a given name, Wilkes has been used occasionally in the United States, often honoring figures like John Wilkes Booth or the Wilkes family of the American Revolution.
Where Wilkes is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Wilks
Sibling names for Wilkes
Names that share Wilkes's style, for a brother or sister.
