Wilmot
Primarily a boy's name of Germanic origin with 454 recorded births. Also given to 5 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname originating as a patronymic.
Wilmot is a boy's and girl's baby name of Germanic origin, a surname-turned-given-name derived from the Old German Willamod, meaning 'resolute mind' or 'strong will.' The name was borne by John Wilmot, the 2nd Earl of Rochester — the brilliant, dissolute Restoration poet.
Wilmot has a quietly distinguished character — a name that sits in the space between old-fashioned and genuinely rare. Its literary pedigree and strong Germanic roots give it more depth than its modest profile suggests.
EtymologyShow more
Though Wilmot dates back to 1906 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Germanic classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
With only 454 recorded births, Wilmot has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Wilmot has 43+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1906.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | #10116 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 13 | #4999 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 7 | #3658 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 18 | #3867 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 60 | #3126 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 75 | #3002 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 129 | #2550 | — |
| 1910s | 141 | #1677 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 6 | #1246 | — |
The Story of Wilmot
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1916, Wilmot is a name steeped in history. Boys named Wilmot are most likely born between 1906 and 1926.
How rare is Wilmot?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Wilmot is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1906, peaked in the 1910s with 141 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Wilmot by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Wilmot per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(43 years, 1906–1993)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 5 | #10116 |
| 1976 | 6 | #5573 |
| 1972 | 7 | #4424 |
| 1960 | 7 | #3658 |
| 1953 | 5 | #4331 |
| 1952 | 5 | #4252 |
| 1950 | 8 | #3018 |
| 1949 | 6 | #3682 |
| 1948 | 9 | #2785 |
| 1947 | 8 | #3091 |
| 1945 | 8 | #2738 |
| 1944 | 6 | #3423 |
| 1942 | 9 | #2709 |
| 1941 | 9 | #2652 |
| 1940 | 5 | #3929 |
| 1939 | 8 | #2825 |
| 1938 | 5 | #4025 |
| 1937 | 10 | #2476 |
| 1936 | 8 | #2847 |
| 1935 | 8 | #2946 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Wilmot as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Wilmot has also been given to 5 girls in the U.S. since 1917.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilmot a boy's or girl's name?
When was Wilmot most popular?
How popular is the name Wilmot?
Can Wilmot be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1906–1993