Meaning & Origin
A surname from Middle English. Ellipsis of Oscar Wilde, Irish author, playwright, and poet (1845–1900), whose contemporary literary success, notably A Picture of Dorian Gray, was eventually soured by a gross indecency trial that became a cause célèbre.
Wilde is a boy's and girl's baby name of Middle English origin, from the Middle English surname wilde (wild, untamed), or used as a given name in honor of Oscar Wilde, meaning 'wild' or 'untamed' — forever associated with the Irish poet, playwright, and wit whose trial for gross indecency became a defining moment in the history of civil liberties.
With over 142 recorded births, Wilde as a given name is clearly a tribute to Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), one of the most quotable writers in the English language, whose plays including The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband remain comedies of perfect wit, and whose trials and imprisonment became a landmark in LGBTQ+ history. Giving a child this name is a quiet declaration of values: wit, beauty, and moral courage.