UK boy's name
Baldwin
A masculine name from Old German meaning "bold friend".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Baldwin is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Baldwin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2012 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Baldwin is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Baldwin. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Baldwin ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Baldwin.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Baldwin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Baldwin mean?
The given name Baldwin is derived from the Germanic elements "bald", meaning "bold" or "brave", and "win", meaning "friend". It originated in the Middle Ages, around the 9th or 10th century, and was initially popular among the Frankish and Norman nobility in Europe.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Baldwin can be found in the 9th century, referring to Baldwin I, also known as Baldwin Iron Arm, who was the first Count of Flanders from 862 to 879 AD. He played a significant role in defending the region against Viking raids.
Another notable figure with the name Baldwin was Baldwin I of Jerusalem, who was one of the leaders of the First Crusade and became the first Latin King of Jerusalem in 1100 AD. He ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1100 to 1118 AD.
In the 13th century, Baldwin II, also known as Baldwin of Courtenay, was the last emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, reigning from 1228 to 1261 AD. He was a prominent figure during the Fourth Crusade and the subsequent establishment of the Latin Empire in the eastern Mediterranean.
Moving forward in history, Baldwin I, also known as Baldwin the Leper King, was the fourth ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1174 to 1185 AD. Despite being afflicted with leprosy, he was a capable military leader and played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against Saladin's forces.
Another notable figure with the name Baldwin was Baldwin IV, also known as Baldwin the Leper or the Leper King of Jerusalem, who ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1174 to 1185 AD. Despite his debilitating illness, he was a skilled military strategist and fought bravely against the Muslim forces led by Saladin.
These are just a few examples of notable historical figures who bore the name Baldwin, reflecting its long-standing association with bravery, nobility, and military prowess, particularly during the Middle Ages and the Crusades.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Baldwin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Baldwin was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Baldwin
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Baldwin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Baldwin in the UK right now?
In 2012, Baldwin was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Baldwin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Baldwin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Baldwin?
A masculine name from Old German meaning "bold friend".
How many people are called Baldwin in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Baldwin across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.