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    The first name Godwin

    A boy’s name from English meaning “god's friend”, “friend”.

    Pronounced /ˈɡɒdwɪn/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Godwin means “god's friend”, “friend” in English.

    From Old English Godwine (“God's friend”). The component -win is from Old English wine (“friend”). The second meaning is named after Michael Wayne Godwin (born 1956), American attorney and author.

    More names that mean friend.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 10 boys were named Godwin, making it the 2,269th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 20 births (#1,279).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    279
    babies named Godwin, 1996–2025
    #2,269
    rank in 2025
    2015
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Godwin with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Godwin at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 15 boys born in the United States were named Godwin, the 5,951st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2011, when 22 were.

    01530 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    578
    babies named Godwin since 1880
    #5,951
    rank in 2025
    2011
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Godwin

    5 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Godwin, Earl of Wessex
      Anglo-Saxon nobleman; son of Wulfnoth Cild, died 1053
    • Carter Godwin Woodson
      American historian, writer, and journalist (1875–1950)
    • Godwin von Brumowski
      Austro-Hungarian flying ace (1889-1936)
    • Godwin Attram
      Footballer, born 1980
    • Ty
      British rapper (1972–2020)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Godwin mean?
    Godwin means “god's friend”, “friend” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Godwin?
    From Old English Godwine (“God's friend”). The component -win is from Old English wine (“friend”). The second meaning is named after Michael Wayne Godwin (born 1956), American attorney and author.
    How popular is the name Godwin?
    In 2025, 10 boys born in England and Wales were named Godwin, ranking 2,269th. Its peak was 2015, with 20 births.
    Is Godwin a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 578 US babies named Godwin since 1880 were boys.
    When was Godwin most popular?
    2011 in the United States, when 22 babies were named Godwin, its highest rank at 4,413th.
    How do you pronounce Godwin?
    Godwin is /ˈɡɒdwɪn/, 2 syllables.
    Is Godwin also a surname?
    Yes. Godwin is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.