Wil
A male given name, variant of Will.
Every Wil since 1953 — 1,094 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Wil
Wil is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,797 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1953, 1,094 American babies have been named Wil. Its peak came in 2005, when 48 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wil stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Wil year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #13,797 |
| 2024 | 7 | #10,867 |
| 2023 | 6 | #12,169 |
| 2022 | 12 | #7,233 |
| 2021 | 8 | #9,648 |
| 2020 | 7 | #10,547 |
| 2019 | 10 | #8,179 |
| 2018 | 7 | #10,695 |
| 2017 | 13 | #6,652 |
| 2016 | 19 | #5,116 |
| 2015 | 19 | #5,050 |
| 2014 | 12 | #7,027 |
| 2013 | 18 | #5,160 |
| 2012 | 15 | #5,978 |
| 2011 | 15 | #5,931 |
| 2010 | 25 | #4,090 |
| 2009 | 19 | #5,090 |
| 2008 | 25 | #4,135 |
| 2007 | 38 | #3,086 |
| 2006 | 40 | #2,877 |
| 2005 | 48 | #2,430 |
| 2004 | 38 | #2,787 |
| 2003 | 47 | #2,309 |
| 2002 | 27 | #3,343 |
| 2001 | 36 | #2,678 |
| 2000 | 40 | #2,424 |
| 1995 | 29 | #2,623 |
| 1990 | 30 | #2,370 |
| 1985 | 11 | #4,040 |
| 1980 | 7 | #5,511 |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | 12 | #2,889 |
| 1965 | 6 | #3,920 |
| 1960 | 5 | #4,580 |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Wil
- Wil van Gogh Celebrity · 1862–1941
- Wil Wheaton Actor · b. 1972
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wil mean?
A male given name, variant of Will.
How popular is the name Wil in 2025?
Wil ranked #13,797 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Wil?
1,094 babies have been named Wil in the United States since 1953, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Wil most popular?
Wil peaked in 2005, when 48 newborns received the name.
Is Wil a boy or girl name?
Wil is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Wil rising or falling?
Wil is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Wil?
Well-known people named Wil include Wil van Gogh (celebrity), Wil Wheaton (actor).