The nickname Winnie returned to the US High 1000 in 2019, after many years out of favor.
It suits proper in with quick, sparky names for our daughters. Assume Sadie and Hattie.
Gentle night time host Jimmy Fallon helped increase the identify when he and spouse Nancy Juvonen welcomed daughter Winnie in 2013. She and youthful sister, Franny, made visitor appearances on their dad’s present whereas he filmed from dwelling in early 2020.
For Fallon, Winnie was impressed by Lake Winnipesaukee, a favourite New Hampshire trip spot for the couple.
There’s additionally the stuffed-with-fluff bear from AA Milne’s enduring tales, the heroine of Tuck Eternal, and everyone’s favourite, Winnie Cooper of The Marvel Years. The late Nelson Mandela was married to fellow activist and politician, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Regardless of so many various makes use of, the nickname Winnie doesn’t connect to a single formal identify. You may skip the formal identify fully, after all. However should you’d like one thing barely totally different in your daughter’s start certificates, choices abound.
FORMAL NAMES FOR WINNIE: FAMILIAR CHOICES
GWENDOLEN, GWENDOLYN
The Marvel Years without end linked Gwendolyn and Winnie, because of the woman subsequent door. Danica McKellar performed Kevin’s neighbor/crush/girlfriend on the coming-of-age collection. It debuted in 1988 and ran by means of 1993, that means that folks at the moment virtually actually make the connection between nickname Winnie and this legendary Welsh queen. A observe on spelling: the ‘e’ is historically female in Wales. American mother and father have lengthy favored the ‘y’ model as a substitute.
WINIFRED
The Welsh gwen – honest – and frewi – peace gave us Gwenfrewi, the identify of a seventh century saint. It was recorded as Winefrida in Latin, and finally turned Winifred. (Previous English masculine identify Winfred is sort of related.) Gently classic, however with loads of energy, Winifred left the US High 1000 within the Nineteen Sixties, however feels prepared for revival. One notable namesake: Winnie Mandela.
WINONA
A Dakota identify for a firstborn daughter, Winona made a splash within the Nineteen Eighties because of actress Winona Ryder – sure, Winona is her given identify. She’s remained within the highlight through the years, at the moment taking part in Joyce on smash Netflix collection Stranger Issues. Nation singer Wynonna Judd hit it huge int he Nineteen Nineties – although she was born Christina. Repeatedly used from the nineteenth century into the Fifties, at the moment Winona feels uncommon – however maybe accessible, because of the superstar.
WINTER
A quick-rising seasonal favourite, Winter has adopted Summer season and Autumn up the US reputation charts. Some credit score goes to Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, who welcomed daughter Harlow Winter Kate in 2008. Whereas Winter requires no quick kind, Winnie works.
WINSLET
A Hollywood surname identify, Winslet appears like a mixture of Winnie and Scarlett, Winter and Juliet.
WINSLOW
Half-Winnie, part-Harlow, part-Arizona place identify immortalized by the Eagles. Landscaper painter Winslow Homer was a mustachioed nineteenth century gentleman, however lately, it’s been (barely) extra fashionable for our daughters.
RARE FORMAL NAMES FOR WINNIE
EDWINA
The identify Edwina is teetering on the sting of obscurity. One potential motive you’ll hear it? A well-liked center faculty musical efficiency alternative is “Expensive Edwina,” a Nineteen Nineties-era manufacturing that’s nonetheless going robust. And but, Edwina comes with built-in nickname Winnie and Edie. That’s some extent in favor of this classic alternative.
GWYNNE and GWYNETH
If Gwendolyn works, how about different names with the identical gywn sound?
WILHELMINA
You may consider Billie and even Minnie as Wilhelmina’s go-to quick kind, however the nickname Winnie works, too.
WINOLA
It seems like the marginally better-known identify Winona, besides Winola is the identify of a Pennsylvania lake. Locals declare that it comes from a Native American phrase that means “water lily.”
WYNNE
An ideal many names on this checklist hint again to the Welsh component wyn – honest – together with this one.
WINNIE FROM -WEN
ARWEN
With names like Gwendolyn on the checklist, Lord of the Rings character identify Arwen suits, too. In accordance with Tolkien, it means noble maiden.
BRONWEN and BRONWYN
One other Welsh chance, Winnie is perhaps a extra interesting quick kind than Bronnie.
ELOWEN and ELOWYN
This contemporary Cornish nature identify means elm tree.
OLWEN
One other Welsh rarity.
ROWAN and ROWEN
This appears like extra of a stretch, however the sound is (nearly) there.
OBSCURE WINNIE OPTIONS
KAYWINNET
Any Firefly followers on the market? Joss Whedon, namer extraordinaire, included a proficient mechanic known as Kaylee in his house Western. It’s not clear what impressed the identify, although there’s some hypothesis from followers. It’s a wildly unconventional Winnie identify.
ROSWINDA and ROSWITHA
An outdated Germanic identify, it’s additionally spelled Hrotsvitha. Doable meanings embrace “well-known energy” and “mighty shout.” What we all know for certain is that Roswitha was a nun in tenth century Saxony, recognized for her writing, a mixture of performs and poetry. The nickname Winnie makes this vintage somewhat extra accessible for a daughter at the moment.
WINSOME
We love an excellent phrase identify. Simply ask all of these Winters. Winsome means cheerful, but it surely additionally suggests innocence – and maybe naivete. But it surely’s a stunning, interesting sound, equal elements tailor-made and fanciful.
What are your favourite formal names to get to the nickname Winnie?
Initially printed on September 20, 2013, this submit was revised considerably and re-posted on November 6, 2020 and once more on June 13, 2024.
