UK boy's name
Wilkie
Diminutive of William, a Germanic name meaning "resolute protector".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Wilkie is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Wilkie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3849, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2005 to 2005. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Wilkie is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Wilkie. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Wilkie ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales in 2005, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 boys were registered as Wilkie.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Wilkie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3849
2005
Births in 2005
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Wilkie mean?
The given name Wilkie is a diminutive form of the name William, which originated from the Germanic name Willihelm. The name is derived from the elements "wil" meaning will or desire, and "helm" meaning protection or helmet. Wilkie is a Scottish variant of the name, which emerged in the Middle Ages.
The name Wilkie gained popularity in Scotland during the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Sir David Wilkie (1785-1841), a renowned Scottish painter known for his genre scenes of rural life. His works, such as "The Village Holiday" and "The Penny Wedding," captured the everyday lives of ordinary people with warmth and realism.
Another notable bearer of the name was Wilkie Collins (1824-1889), an English novelist and playwright. He is best known for his works "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone," which are considered among the first modern detective novels. Collins was a pioneer in the genre of sensation fiction and influenced many later writers.
In the field of literature, Wilkie Collins (1888-1925), an American journalist and novelist, is also noteworthy. He wrote several novels, including "The Unforgettable Fire" and "The Haunted Bookshop," which explored themes of mystery and the supernatural.
The name Wilkie also appears in the world of sports. Wilkie D. Ferguson (1900-1965) was an American baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers in the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for his defensive skills as an outfielder and his strong throwing arm.
Another prominent figure with the name Wilkie was Wilkie Bard (1915-1994), a Scottish actor and comedian. He gained fame for his performances on stage, television, and in films, often portraying working-class characters with a dry wit and understated humor.
While the name Wilkie may not be as common as its parent name William, it has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history, particularly in Scotland and the literary world. The name's origins can be traced back to the Germanic elements of will and protection, reflecting the strength and determination often associated with its bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Wilkie by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Wilkie was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Wilkie
- William 117,982
- Wilfred 5,302
- Will 3,185
- Warren 2,787
- Wyatt 2,604
- Wesley 2,513
- Woody 1,951
- Walter 1,918
- Wiktor 1,354
- Wayne 979
- Wilbur 975
- Wade 902
FAQ
Wilkie: questions and answers
How popular is the name Wilkie in the UK right now?
In 2005, Wilkie was ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Wilkie most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Wilkie in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Wilkie?
Diminutive of William, a Germanic name meaning "resolute protector".
How many people are called Wilkie in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Wilkie across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.