Wilder Name Meaning

The meaning of the name Wilder is “untamed” or “unruly.” It’s a name that evokes images of adventure and courage, and it’s a great choice for parents who are looking for a name that’s both bold and daring.

Origins of the Name Wilder

The name Wilder is of Old English origin, and it was originally used as a surname. It was a nickname for someone who was wild, untamed, or unruly, and it eventually evolved into a given name in its own right. The name Wilder is a great choice for parents who are looking for a name that’s both unique and memorable, and it has a rich history that adds to its charm.

History of the Name Wilder

The name Wilder has been used as a given name for centuries, with roots that stretch back to medieval England. In the Middle Ages, the name was used as a nickname for someone who was wild, untamed, or unruly. Over time, the name evolved into a given name in its own right, and it has been used as a first name ever since.

Popularity of the Name Wilder

The name Wilder has been gaining in popularity in recent years, and it’s now one of the most popular names for boys in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration, the name Wilder was the 225th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2020. The popularity of the name Wilder is likely due to its adventurous spirit and its unique and memorable sound.

Final Thoughts on the Name Wilder

The name Wilder is a bold and daring name that’s full of adventure, courage, and a bit of mischief. Whether you’re looking for a name that’s unique and memorable, or a name that’s full of spirit, Wilder is a great choice. So if you’re looking for a name for your little guy that’s got a lot of heart and a lot of personality, consider the name Wilder.

Infographic of Wilder name meaning, which is hunter
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Wilder Name Popularity

How popular is the name Wilder? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 0 0%
1911 0 0%
1912 0 0%
1913 0 0%
1914 0 0%
1915 0 0%
1916 0 0%
1917 0 0%
1918 0 0%
1919 0 0%
1920 0 0%
1921 0 0%
1922 0 0%
1923 0 0%
1924 0 0%
1925 0 0%
1926 0 0%
1927 0 0%
1928 0 0%
1929 0 0%
1930 0 0%
1931 0 0%
1932 0 0%
1933 0 0%
1934 0 0%
1935 0 0%
1936 0 0%
1937 0 0%
1938 0 0%
1939 0 0%
1940 0 0%
1941 0 0%
1942 0 0%
1943 0 0%
1944 0 0%
1945 0 0%
1946 0 0%
1947 0 0%
1948 0 0%
1949 0 0%
1950 0 0%
1951 0 0%
1952 0 0%
1953 0 0%
1954 0 0%
1955 0 0%
1956 0 0%
1957 0 0%
1958 0 0%
1959 0 0%
1960 0 0%
1961 0 0%
1962 0 0%
1963 0 0%
1964 0 0%
1965 0 0%
1966 0 0%
1967 0 0%
1968 0 0%
1969 0 0%
1970 0 0%
1971 0 0%
1972 0 0%
1973 0 0%
1974 0 0%
1975 0 0%
1976 0 0%
1977 0 0%
1978 0 0%
1979 0 0%
1980 0 0%
1981 0 0%
1982 0 0%
1983 0 0%
1984 0 0%
1985 0 0%
1986 0 0%
1987 0 0%
1988 0 0%
1989 0 0%
1990 0 0%
1991 0 0%
1992 2,396 6 0.0004%
1993 0 0%
1994 0 0%
1995 0 0%
1996 0 0%
1997 0 0%
1998 0 0%
1999 2,458 6 0.0004%
2000 2,635 5 0.0003%
2001 2,588 6 0.0004%
2002 0 0%
2003 2,594 6 0.0004%
2004 1,968 18 0.0012%
2005 2,341 10 0.0007%
2006 0 0%
2007 1,941 23 0.0015%
2008 2,179 16 0.001%
2009 2,620 7 0.0005%
2010 1,796 28 0.0019%
2011 1,893 22 0.0015%
2012 1,967 20 0.0014%
2013 1,460 49 0.0034%
2014 1,376 60 0.0041%
2015 954 156 0.0107%
2016 725 280 0.0194%
2017 569 429 0.0307%
2018 511 500 0.0364%
2019 476 557 0.0411%
2020 424 644 0.0506%
2021 360 867 0.0709%
2022 372 838 0.0635%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Wilder

If you like Wilder, you’ll love these other names like Wilder.


What names are variants of Wilder?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Wilder.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Wild

Hunter

German

Wilde

Hunter

German


What names sound like Wilder?

If you like how Wilder sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Wilder.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Elder

Elder trees

English

Fielder

The field

English

Walder

Commander of the army

German

Walter

Commander of the army

German


Lists With Wilder

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Wilder.


Siblings of Wilder

Mamas with kids named Wilder also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Hawkins

Little hawk

English

Freja

Norse Goddess of Love

Scandinavian

Lane

Pathway

English

Sutton

Southern settlement

English

Soren

Stern

Danish

Remie

From Rheims

French

Silas

Man of the forest

Latin

Joah

God is his brother

Hebrew

13 Comments

  1. We chose it for its adventurous connotation

  2. My husband picked the name Wilder from a baby naming website. As soon as I heard the name, I knew it was perfect! My husband is of German decent, Wilder(hunter in German) stuck. It’s also very fitting for how both my husband and I grew up and how we are raising our son now.

  3. We wanted something unique, maybe a bit older, and it was the only name we agreed on.

  4. We wanted an old but strong name. Wilder is an old English name. My husband and I are outdoorsy people and thought Wilder was appropriate!

  5. This was my first (and probably last) baby. I had natural births with my first two and was planning on a water birth for this one. Unfortunately I had a placental abruption in the middle of the night at 36 weeks and 6 days and had to have a very emergency csection. Wilder had been on our list snd after his birth I said that it was such a Wild ride that his name should be Wilder. He is only a week old but we really love the name!

  6. My parents planned to name me Wiley so we got the name Wilder from that!

  7. Wilder always seem like a strong last name that could easily be a great name for a boy.

  8. I assumed wrong that we would name our son after my husband. When I learned he didn’t want to pass his name on, I was worried we wouldn’t be able to agree on a name. After going many, many, many, names, My husband said “how about Wilder”, and I immediately loved it!! Wilder, is perfect, as its fitting to how my husband grew up on a very remote part of the Salmon River in Idaho and my-self on Kodiak Island, Alaska. The name Wilder embodies the spirit my husband and I both share for adventure, our natural world and how we want to raise our son, WILDER!!

  9. Wilder Joe. My husband and I searched thru thousands of boy names and this one just jumped out at us! I love it because I think it sounds unique, outdoorsy, and a little bit hippie. The middle name Joe is my husband’s, his father’s, and grandfather’s middle name.

  10. Wilder William came from our love of Laura Ingalls Wilder books, both being teachers and wanting something unique, and William as a family middle name on my side. My husband pitched them together by suggesting, “If we call him Wilder William, his nickname can be Wild Bill, and we can say Wild Bill pooped his pants again!” I laughed, agreed, and we never really call him Wild Bill lol.

  11. It’s an intelligent sounding name, unique, without being too odd (trying to hard) or unfamiliar. It seems to invoke ideas of nature, & a free spiritedness, as well as a sense of humor. This is why we picked it ?.

  12. Both my husband and I are teachers; our ultrasound tech even stopped what she was doing to chime in “Wow! It’s going to be hard to find a name!”
    We wanted something strong, unique, yet didn’t sound too new agey. We were inspired by finding Wilder on a list and discussing our mutual childhood love of the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (I actually work with the wife of and teach the grandchildren of one of her descendants!) His middle name, William, is a family middle name and went with creating his first nickname: Wild Bill. Before we found out his gender, we’d nicknamed him Little Bear- now, it’s morphed into Wilderbear and we couldn’t love our pick more. ?

    • I named my baby Wilder.. we were so excited and we absolutely loved it until people attempted to pronounce it after reading it on documents (doctors, nurses, optometrist ect.) And they mispronounced it. Every. Time. They pronounced it Wil-der. We were so disappointed. We are currently in the process of changing the spelling of it to Wylder in hopes that will help. 🙁


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