Godwin
Meaningfriend of God · Old English
- US rank
- #5,861
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #3,071 in 1983
15 babies were named Godwin in the US in 2025. It has climbed 2,878 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Godwin you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Godwin
Godwin Okpara
Nigerian footballer
Choose Godwin and your child shares a first name with Godwin Okpara, a Nigerian footballer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Godwin, like who?” Godwin Okpara's Wikipedia article is available in 20 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Godwin Okpara on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 113,636 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Godwin, 15 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Godwin would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryGodwin first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1983, when it reached #3,071.
- Then vs nowGodwin is 2.4× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 277,778 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 113,636.
- TrendGodwin has climbed 2,878 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #5,861. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn Old English, Godwin means “friend of God”.
About the name Godwin
Godwin is a boy name of English origin meaning “friend of God”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with G and ending in “-win”. US birth records list Godwin for boys from 1914 to 2025, in 53 of those 112 years. Its best year was 1983, when it ranked #3,071 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #5,861, with 15 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 1.3 | 789,474 boys |
| 1920s | 0.5 | 2,222,222 boys |
| 1950s | 0.8 | 1,176,471 boys |
| 1960s | 0.5 | 2,040,816 boys |
| 1970s | 1.1 | 925,926 boys |
| 1980s | 4.2 | 238,663 boys |
| 1990s | 4.2 | 239,234 boys |
| 2000s | 6.0 | 166,667 boys |
| 2010s | 8.9 | 111,982 boys |
| 2020s | 7.6 | 131,291 boys |
Other spellings of Godwin
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Godwin
What does the name Godwin mean?
Godwin means “friend of God” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Godwin?
Godwin has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Godwin a boy or girl name?
Godwin is a boy name.
How popular is the name Godwin?
Godwin ranked #5,861 for US boys in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 1983 (#3,071).