Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Winter
GirlEnglish, Old English· “winter”
- Meaning
- winter
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- WIHN-tur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #426
- US babies 2025
- 732
- Best rank
- #305 (2022)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Winter
Winter is an English and Old English name that means “winter”.
Winter is a word name taken from the coldest season of the year, from the Old English winter. It has long existed as an English surname, but as a first name it is largely a modern choice, growing in the twenty-first century alongside other seasonal names such as Autumn and Summer. It brings to mind snow, quiet landscapes and festive holidays, and many parents find it especially fitting for a baby born in the colder months. Winter is used mostly for girls, with occasional use for boys. It sounds crisp and poetic and stands out without being hard to spell or pronounce.
Other spellings with the same sound: Wynter.
Popularity over time
Winter first appears in US Social Security records in 1954. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 16 different years, starting in 1978. Its best national rank was #305 in 2022, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,053 babies. In 2025, 732 babies were named Winter, and it ranked #426 nationally. That is 29% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,029 in 1980, #1,167 in 2000, #1,121 in 2010, and #426 in 2025. Of the 15,619 US girls named Winter since records began, 35% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 5,457 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Esme, Poppy, Kalani, Dream, and Evie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Winter ranked highest in New Hampshire, Missouri, and West Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #203 | 7 |
| Missouri | #298 | 21 |
| West Virginia | #307 | 6 |
| South Carolina | #310 | 17 |
| Florida | #325 | 57 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 94% of US babies named Winter over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Winter is usually pronounced WIHN-tur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with W and ends in “-er”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Wynter.
Middle names for Winter
A few middle names that flow with Winter: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Winter
Similar names
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Lists that include Winter
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Winter mean?
Winter is an English and Old English name that means “winter”.
What is the origin of the name Winter?
Winter has English and Old English roots. Winter is a word name taken from the coldest season of the year, from the Old English winter.
Is Winter a popular name?
Yes. Winter ranked #426 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Winter a boy or girl name?
Winter is mainly a girl's name. About 94% of US babies named Winter over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Winter?
Winter is usually pronounced WIHN-tur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings