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The first name Winston

A boy’s name from English meaning “farm”, “village”.

Pronounced /ˈwɪn.stən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

Meaning and origin

English origin

Winston means “farm”, “village” in English.

From Old English personal name Wine, in the genitive singular case Wines + tūn (“farm, village”).

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 33 boys were named Winston, making it the 934th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2019, with 59 births (#616).

03060 1996200020052010201520202025
800
babies named Winston, 1996–2025
#934
rank in 2025
2019
peak year

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

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Winston at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 830 boys born in the United States were named Winston, the 382nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2019, when 860 were.

0450900 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
32,956
babies named Winston since 1880
#382
rank in 2025
2019
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.

Nicknames and spellings

Nicknames for Winston

Famous people named Winston

25 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Winston Churchill
    British statesman, soldier and writer (1874–1965)
  • Winston Groom
    American writer (1943-2020)
  • Winston Bogarde
    Dutch footballer, born 1970
  • Winston Graham
    English novelist (1908–2003)
  • Winston Churchill
    American novelist (1871–1947)
  • Winston Parks
    Costa Rican footballer, born 1981
  • Winston E. Scott
    American navy officer and astronaut, born 1950
  • Winston Churchill
    British politician (1940–2010)
  • Winston Hibler
    American screenwriter, film producer, director and narrator (1910-1976)
  • Winston Churchill
    English soldier, historian, and politician (1620–1688)
  • Winston Miller
    Actor, screenwriter (1910-1994)
  • Winston W. Royce
    American software engineer (1929–1995)

More English boys’ names

Questions

What does the name Winston mean?
Winston means “farm”, “village” in English.
What is the origin of the name Winston?
From Old English personal name Wine, in the genitive singular case Wines + tūn (“farm, village”).
How popular is the name Winston?
In 2025, 33 boys born in England and Wales were named Winston, ranking 934th. Its peak was 2019, with 59 births.
What are nicknames for Winston?
Common nicknames for Winston include Winnie, Win.
Is Winston a boy's or a girl's name?
Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 32,956 US babies named Winston since 1880 were boys.
When was Winston most popular?
2019 in the United States, when 860 babies were named Winston, its highest rank at 372nd.
How do you pronounce Winston?
Winston is /ˈwɪn.stən/, 2 syllables.
Is Winston also a surname?
Yes. Winston is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.