Declining since 2017, #5,861 for boys today.
Popularity of Godwin since 1914
Babies named Godwin per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2011, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Godwin's real moment was 2018.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 16 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 77 |
| 1990s | 81 |
| 2000s | 120 |
| 2010s | 167 |
| 2020s | 79 |
Meaning & origin
Godwin is an Old English name meaning 'friend of God,' with roots stretching back to pre-Conquest England. Its most famous historical bearer was Godwin, Earl of Wessex, a powerful 11th-century nobleman. After the Norman Conquest, the name fell out of common use but saw a revival in the 19th century. In modern times, it remains relatively rare: in 2025 it ranked 5,861 in the U.S., with about 1 in 113,872 newborns given the name. Its recent peak in popularity occurred in 2018, though it has been on a falling trajectory since 2017. The name has not been heavily concentrated in any particular state in recent years.
Godwin is derived from the Old English elements "god" (God) and "wine" (friend), thus meaning "friend of God." It was a common name among Anglo-Saxons and notably borne by Godwin, Earl of Wessex (c. 1001-1053), the powerful father of King Harold II. After the Norman Conquest, the name fell out of favor but was revived in the 19th century.
“Godwin” around the world
Where Godwin lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Win, God, Winnie
Variants: Godwine
Sibling names for Godwin
Names that share Godwin's style, for a brother or sister.
