Wilder

Surname or word name

"wild, untamed, uncontrolled"

Wilder Origin and Meaning

The name Wilder is a boy's name of English origin meaning "wild, untamed, uncontrolled".

Rugged, outdoorsy, and full of energy, Wilder entered the US Top 1000 back in 2015. Part bad boy, part Western, part preppy, and part nature-loving, Wilder is given to nearly 800 babies each year.

Once an off-beat, rarely used choice, Wilder began to climb the charts in 2007, after American actress Goldie Hawn became a grandmother to a Wilder. Similar in sound to Wiley and Wyatt and with the -er ending of Carter or Cooper, Wilder sounds bold but familiar, and fits in with the likes of Ledger, Forrest, Fox, and Maverick.

Until recently, Wilder was much more familiar as a surname, borne by such notables as authors Laura Ingalls and Thornton, composer Alec, director Billy, and actor Gene. Douglas Wilder was the first African American to be elected Governor of Virginia.

Wilder was one of the 10 fastest-rising boys' names back in 2016, though its climb up the charts has slowed in recent years.

Wilder Rank in US Top 1000

# 392 in the US

Wilder Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 249 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Wilder

• 392 US 2024
• 249 Nameberry 2025
• 184 Future 2028

20 Names Similar to Wilder

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Wilder.

• Bodhi
• Bowie
• Remy
• Knox
• Forrest
• Lennon
• Grey
• Beau
• Lennox
• Rhodes
• Nash
• Wren
• Huxley
• Gray
• Banks
• Beck
• Sterling
• Fletcher
• Archer
• Oakley

Famous People Named Wilder

• Wilder Graves Penfield Canadian neurosurgeon
• Wilder Mountain Honey Hurley daughter of singer,songwriter Michael Hurley
• Wilder Brooks Hudson (b. 2007) son of actor Oliver Hudson; grandson of actress Goldie Hawn
• Wilder Davidson (b. 2011) son of actors Mary Stuart Masterson and Jeremy Davidson; twin of sister Clio
• Wilder Towne Helberg (b. 2014) son of actor Simon Helberg
• Wilder Frances Faison (b. 2015) daughter of Donald Faison & CaCee Cobb
• Wilder Grace Leonard (b.2016) daughter of Alison Pill and Joshua Leonard
• Almanzo Wilder (1857 1949), husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder and father of Rose Wilder Lane

The name Wilder in Pop Culture

• Wilder Lloyd character in 2008 movie "The Accidental Husband"
• Wilder character in anime series "Transformers: Super,God Masterforce"
• "Van Wilder " film and its main character
• Jack Wilder illusionist from the movie 'Now You See Me'
• Zelos Wilder a redheaded ladies' man in video game Tales of Symphonia
• Wilder A psionic character class in Dungeons and Dragons