Holding steady.
Popularity of Winthrop since 1883
Babies named Winthrop per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Winthrop's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 10 |
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 29 |
| 1910s | 216 |
| 1920s | 213 |
| 1930s | 148 |
| 1940s | 171 |
| 1950s | 163 |
| 1960s | 112 |
| 1970s | 46 |
| 1980s | 23 |
| 1990s | 13 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 22 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Winthrop is a distinguished English surname turned given name, most familiar through John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The name reached its peak usage in 1906, though it never entered widespread popularity. In the most recent data, it remains a rare choice, with no recorded births in 2025. Its stable trajectory suggests occasional use among families seeking a strong, traditional WASP surname style. While not tied to any top states, the name carries an unmistakable old New England pedigree.
Winthrop is derived from an English surname, which itself comes from a place name meaning 'Wina's village' or 'friend's village' (from Old English 'wine' meaning friend, and 'throp' meaning village or hamlet). The surname was borne by John Winthrop (1587-1649), the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which gave the name early American prestige. Its use as a given name has been primarily in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Win, Winn
Sibling names for Winthrop
Names that share Winthrop's style, for a brother or sister.
