Wilder
Meaningwild, untamed · English
- US rank
- #429
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #366 in 2021
743 babies were named Wilder in the US in 2025. It has dropped 3 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1918–2025
US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Wilder you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Wilder
Wilder Penfield
Canadian neurosurgeon, college football player and coach (1891–1976)
Choose Wilder and your child shares a first name with Wilder Penfield, a Canadian neurosurgeon, college football player and coach. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Wilder, like who?” Wilder Penfield's Wikipedia article is available in 27 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Wilder Penfield on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,299 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Wilder, 743 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Wilder would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWilder first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2021, when it reached #366.
- Then vs nowWilder is 45× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 103,093 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 2,299.
- Where it's lovedWilder is most popular in Vermont, where it ranks #57, followed by South Dakota (#127) and Maine (#151). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn English, Wilder means “wild, untamed”.
About the name Wilder
Wilder is a boy name of English origin meaning “wild, untamed”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-der”. US birth records list Wilder for boys from 1914 to 2025, in 69 of those 112 years. Its best year was 2021, when it ranked #366 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #429, with 743 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 2.1 | 465,116 girls |
| 1920s | 1.3 | 746,269 girls |
| 2000s | 0.6 | 1,562,500 girls |
| 2010s | 12 | 81,169 girls |
| 2020s | 40 | 24,876 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 9.1 | 109,890 boys |
| 1920s | 6.5 | 153,139 boys |
| 1930s | 2.5 | 403,226 boys |
| 1940s | 1.0 | 1,000,000 boys |
| 1950s | 0.9 | 1,162,791 boys |
| 1960s | 0.3 | 2,941,176 boys |
| 1970s | 0.3 | 3,225,806 boys |
| 1980s | 2.7 | 367,647 boys |
| 1990s | 8.0 | 125,471 boys |
| 2000s | 18 | 54,795 boys |
| 2010s | 143 | 6,980 boys |
| 2020s | 462 | 2,166 boys |
Other spellings of Wilder
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Wilder
What does the name Wilder mean?
Wilder means “wild, untamed” in English.
What is the origin of the name Wilder?
Wilder has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Wilder a boy or girl name?
Wilder is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Wilder?
Wilder ranked #429 for US boys in 2025, given to 743 babies. Its best year was 2021 (#366).