Won
A Korean name meaning "complete, whole" or "successful".
Name Census estimates that about 93 living Americans carry the first name Won. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Won today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Won births was 1979 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Won. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Won. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
93
~ 1 in 3,685,531 Americans
Peak year
1979
8 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2007 SSA rank
#10,873
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Won: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Won from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 40 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Won by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Won during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Won
The name Won has its origins in Korean culture and language. It is derived from the Korean word "won," which means "round" or "complete." The name was likely given to signify wholeness, perfection, or the cyclical nature of life.
In ancient Korean history, the name Won appeared in various historical records and texts. It was a common name among the aristocratic and royal families during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). The name carried a connotation of nobility and prestige.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Won dates back to the 7th century. Won Gwang, a renowned Buddhist monk and scholar, lived during the Silla Kingdom (57 BC - 935 AD). He is remembered for his contributions to the spread of Buddhism in Korea and his literary works.
In the 15th century, Won Hyun was a prominent Confucian scholar and politician during the Joseon Dynasty. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Confucian education system and the promotion of Confucian values in Korean society.
Another notable figure with the name Won was Won Kyun (1509-1565), a distinguished military commander and strategist during the Joseon Dynasty. He is renowned for his victories against Japanese invaders during the Imjin War (1592-1598).
During the 19th century, Won Sang-kyun (1835-1922) was a prominent scholar and diplomat who played a crucial role in the modernization of Korea. He was instrumental in establishing diplomatic relations with the United States and other Western nations.
In more recent history, Won Tae-in (1900-1975) was a renowned Korean painter and calligrapher. He is celebrated for his contributions to the development of modern Korean art and his efforts in preserving traditional Korean artistic techniques.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Won. The name has a rich cultural significance and a long-standing tradition in Korean society, often associated with nobility, scholarly pursuits, and artistic achievements.
People
Won + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Won as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Won: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Won?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 93 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Won going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,685,531 US residents.
Is Won a common name?
We classify Won as "Very Rare". It ranks above 63.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 97 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Won most popular?
The single biggest year for Won was 1979, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Won is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Won a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Won in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.