Find out how popular the first name Winter has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Winter by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Winter is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 94% of people named Winter being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 826 female babies and 56 male babies born with the name Winter.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 56 baby boys were named Winter in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Winter

The name Winter is an English word derived from the Old English term "wintertide", which referred to the coldest season of the year. This name's origins can be traced back to the Germanic roots "wintar" and "ventr", both words connected to the concept of wind or adverse weather conditions.

In ancient times, Winter was not commonly used as a given name. However, it appeared as a descriptive term in various texts, such as Beowulf, an Old English epic poem composed between the 8th and 11th centuries, where it was used to depict the harshness of the winter season.

The earliest recorded use of Winter as a given name dates back to the 16th century. One of the first notable individuals to bear this name was Winter de Worde, an English printer and publisher active in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Throughout history, several notable figures have been associated with the name Winter. One such individual was Winter de Wynter (c. 1495-1589), an English judge and law writer who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Winter Quartermain (1609-1665), an English soldier and Member of Parliament who fought for the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War.

In the realm of literature, Winter Graham (1805-1892) was an American novelist and playwright known for her works exploring social issues and women's rights.

Moving to more recent times, Winter Quarters Maxwell (1858-1940) was an American military officer who served in the Spanish-American War and received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Philippine-American War.

Additionally, Winter Laake (1898-1967) was a Finnish athlete who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal in the men's triple jump event.

While not as commonly used as some other names, Winter has had a presence throughout history, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields, including law, literature, military service, and athletics.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Winter was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Winter, please contact us.

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