How Many People Are Named Wilbur?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Wilbur

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 10,023 living people in the United States currently have the first name Wilbur. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 13,180 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #181 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~10,023CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)13,180Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#181U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1967 (283 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~10,023
Historical Births (SSA)
13,180
All-Time Rank
#181
Historical Peak
1967

Key Insights for Wilbur

Estimated Living Bearers
~10,023 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#181
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1967
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
11.2% Male · 88.8% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-23%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~1,253 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Wilbur

Living Population Model
~10,023

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
13,180

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
11,111

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
51.7 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1967

Highest annual total: 283 registrations in 1967.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-23%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Wilbur has experienced a 23% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Wilbur (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1967 (~283 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201020020
201118018
201217017
201316016
201414014
201513013
201612012
201711011
201811011
201910010
202010010
2021909
2022909
2023808
2024808

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
47/100
1950s
79/100
1960s
98/100
1970s
91/100
1980s
63/100
1990s
33/100
2000s
13/100
2010s
5/100
2020s
2/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Wilbur has been predominantly feminine (88.8% female vs 11.2% male).

Male: 11.2% (~1,482 births)Female: 88.8% (~11,698 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Wilbur

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Wilbur in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Wilbur appeared 11,111 times, ranking #561 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
11,111 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#561
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Wilbur Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~1,253 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~1,25312.5%
Texas (TX)~9229.2%
Florida (FL)~6826.8%
New York (NY)~6116.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~4014%
Illinois (IL)~3913.9%
Ohio (OH)~3613.6%
Georgia (GA)~3313.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 10,023 people named Wilbur are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 51.7 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Wilbur: 51.7 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Wilbur

How many people in the U.S. are named Wilbur?

Approximately 10,023 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Wilbur. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 13,180 birth applications for Wilbur between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Wilbur?

Wilbur ranks #181 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Wilbur comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Wilbur most popular in America?

The name Wilbur reached its peak historical popularity in 1967, when 283 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Wilbur?

Wilbur has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Wilbur?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Wilbur has been predominantly feminine (88.8% female vs 11.2% male).

Where is the name Wilbur most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Wilbur resides in California, with approximately 1,253 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Wilbur in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Wilbur appeared 11,111 times in census returns, ranking #561 in official 2020 returns.

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