Baldwin Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BOL-dwin //ˈbɔːldwɪn//
Origin: Old English; Germanic
Meaning: Old English: 'bold friend'; Germanic: 'brave' or 'valiant'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Baldwin has its roots in the Old High German name "Baldowin," which is composed of the elements "bald," meaning "bold" or "brave," and "win," meaning "friend" or "protector." This name evolved through various forms, including the Middle Latin "Baldvinus" and the Old French "Baldouin," before making its way into the English language as Baldwin. The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French names were adopted into English society and culture.
Historically, the name Baldwin has been borne by several notable figures, including Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, who reigned in the late 12th century and is remembered for his struggle against Saladin during the Crusades. The name also appears in various medieval texts and chronicles, reflecting its significance in the context of European nobility and the feudal system.
Baldwin became a common name among the nobility, particularly in regions influenced by the Norman invasion, and it was often associated with leadership and valor. Culturally, Baldwin has been associated with themes of bravery and friendship, resonating with the original meanings of its components.
The name has been used in literature and historical narratives, reinforcing its presence in the cultural memory of Europe. Additionally, the diminutive form "Baldy" has occasionally been used, although it is less common in historical texts.
Overall, Baldwin's enduring legacy can be traced through its linguistic evolution, historical significance, and cultural associations, marking it as a name of considerable weight in both historical and literary contexts.
Fictional characters named Baldwin
The following list of fictional characters named Baldwin is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Baldwin IV is a fictional character from the historical drama film Kingdom of Heaven. He is the leprous king of Jerusalem who struggles to maintain peace during the Crusades.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Baldwin, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Baldwin. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Baldwin was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Baldwin has ranked as high as #1102 nationally, which occurred in 1965, and has been most popular in New York, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Baldwin has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Baldwin is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Baldwin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Baldwin (1994)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Baldwin.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 1998 | 11 |
| 1997 | 7 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1994 | 11 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1992 | 12 |
| 1991 | 7 |
| 1990 | 12 |
| 1989 | 8 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1981 | 6 |
| 1980 | 10 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1974 | 7 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1968 | 7 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1965 | 13 |
| 1964 | 7 |
| 1963 | 7 |
| 1962 | 9 |
| 1961 | 6 |
| 1960 | 8 |
| 1959 | 8 |
| 1958 | 12 |
| 1957 | 8 |
| 1955 | 7 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1951 | 6 |
| 1950 | 5 |
| 1946 | 12 |
| 1944 | 5 |
| 1939 | 7 |
| 1936 | 5 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1933 | 7 |
| 1932 | 7 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1929 | 10 |
| 1928 | 7 |
| 1927 | 8 |
| 1926 | 10 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1924 | 9 |
| 1923 | 11 |
| 1922 | 5 |
| 1921 | 8 |
| 1920 | 10 |
| 1919 | 9 |
| 1918 | 11 |
| 1917 | 10 |
| 1916 | 8 |
| 1915 | 9 |
| 1914 | 10 |
| 1913 | 10 |
| 1880 | 5 |