Winston
Boy name · #382 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Winston? In official American birth records, Winston has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 830 baby boys were named Winston, placing it at #382 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #523, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,169 boys born in 2025 was named Winston.
Babies named Winston per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Winston first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 860 boys were named Winston — good for #371 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Winston against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Winston in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Winston is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Winston is most common
Geography matters for names, and Winston is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Winston is most common in KY (2 per 1,000), AR (1.4 per 1,000), IA (1.3 per 1,000), MS (1.1 per 1,000), WI (1.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Winston is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Winston
Statistically, parents drawn to Winston tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Daxton, Houston, Remington, Kashton, and Paxton.
DaxtonHoustonRemingtonKashtonPaxtonSuttonLeightonLayton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Winston | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 830 | #381 |
| 2024 | 799 | #404 |
| 2023 | 798 | #397 |
| 2022 | 761 | #420 |
| 2021 | 762 | #408 |
| 2020 | 726 | #408 |
| 2019 | 860 | #371 |
| 2018 | 790 | #404 |
| 2017 | 782 | #405 |
| 2016 | 649 | #471 |
| 2015 | 551 | #523 |
| 2014 | 518 | #537 |
| 2013 | 394 | #623 |
| 2012 | 399 | #614 |
| 2011 | 305 | #744 |
| 2010 | 238 | #878 |
| 2009 | 270 | #816 |
| 2008 | 270 | #812 |
| 2007 | 239 | #868 |
| 2006 | 225 | #877 |
| 2005 | 244 | #794 |
| 2004 | 215 | #827 |
| 2003 | 196 | #873 |
| 2002 | 218 | #790 |
| 2001 | 213 | #794 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Winston?
In official American birth records, the name Winston first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Winston a popular boy name?
Winston ranked #382 among boys in 2025 with 830 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #523.
When was the name Winston most popular?
Winston peaked in 2019, when 860 American boys received the name (ranked #371 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Winston?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,169 newborn American boys was named Winston. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.