Wilder
WILE-der /ˈwaɪl.dər/
Meaning of Wilder
Wilder began as an English surname for someone who lived in or near uncultivated land. Use as a first name is overwhelmingly 21st-century, part of a wave of 'nature-adjacent' boys' names (alongside Wolf, Forest, Wren). The name was effectively unused in US records before 2010.
Current popularity of Wilder
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #280 |
Notable bearers of Wilder
Wilder Penfield (neurosurgeon); Gene Wilder (actor — stage name).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Wilder — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31