How to say it
WIN · nie
ˈwɪn.i
Feminine
Winnie
Holy peace; joy
What it means
A pet form of Winifred, from the Welsh for 'blessed reconciliation' or 'holy peace.'
Winnie is the sunny short form of Winifred, a Welsh-rooted name often read as 'blessed reconciliation' or 'holy peace.' It also stands in for Edwina and Gwendolyn. Forever tied to Winnie-the-Pooh and to Winnie Mandela, it has bounced back as a vintage charmer. Sweet and a little plucky on its own. Said WIN-ee.
How to spell Winnie
The standard spelling is Winnie. Common variants include Winifred, Winnifred, Wynnie, but Winnie is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #162 in 1881, currently #475 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A short form of Winifred or Edwina.
- Pop culture
Winnie-the-Pooh; Winnie Mandela.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Winnie the Pooh fictional teddy bear created by author A. A. Milne
- Winnie Madikizela-Mandela South African anti-apartheid activist
Spelling variants
- Winifred
- Winnifred
- Wynnie
Names with the same feeling
See Winnie from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Winnie mean?
- A pet form of Winifred, from the Welsh for 'blessed reconciliation' or 'holy peace.'
- What does Winnie mean in Welsh?
- In Welsh, Winnie means "Holy peace; joy." Winnie is the sunny short form of Winifred, a Welsh-rooted name often read as 'blessed reconciliation' or 'holy peace.' It also stands in for Edwina and Gwendolyn. Forever tied to Winnie-the-Pooh and to Winnie Mandela, it has bounced back as a vintage charmer. Sweet and a little plucky on its own. Said WIN-ee.
- Is Winnie short for Winifred?
- Yes. Winnie is a short form of Winifred, and it carries the same meaning, "Holy peace; joy." These days many parents use Winnie as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Winnie?
- Winnie is pronounced ˈwɪn.i. Say it as WIN-nie, with the stress on the "win" syllable.
- How do you spell Winnie?
- The standard spelling is Winnie. Common spelling variants include Winifred, Winnifred, Wynnie.
- Is Winnie a boy or girl name?
- Winnie is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Winnie?
- Winnie ranked #475 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.