Wilbur

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A common masculine given name used in English-speaking countries
2. A male forename of Germanic origin traditionally given to boys and men
3. A man's name, often associated with figures in literature and history

Etymology: "Wilbur" is a given name, so the interesting part is what it once meant. It comes from the Old English female name Wilburg, built from two elements: "wil", meaning "will" in the sense of desire or resolve, and "burh", meaning "fortress" or "stronghold". The name thus combined the ideas of determination and protection, a pairing that suited a personal name well. The name's English form is the older one; it was given to women before it was given to men. In that earlier form, the name belonged to a woman, and the masculine use of "Wilbur" came later, which is the reverse of how most people today would expect a name like this to have travelled.