UK boy's name
Witold
From Old Slavic origins meaning "well-renowned" or "widely-famous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Witold is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Witold popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 7 births.
This profile covers 59 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2009 to 2023. 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.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 59 living people in the UK are called Witold. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Witold ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 7 boys were registered as Witold.
- • About 59 living people in the UK are estimated to have Witold as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2019
7 births
Estimated living
59
2026
Meaning
What does Witold mean?
The name Witold has its origins in the Slavic languages and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old Slavic words "vitęz" meaning "warrior" and "vladeti" meaning "to rule". The name essentially means "prosperous ruler" or "victorious commander".
In the early days, the name was primarily used in Poland and other regions of Eastern Europe where Slavic languages were spoken. Variations of the spelling include Witolt, Vitold, and Vitaut. The name was particularly popular among nobility and ruling classes, reflecting its association with strength and leadership.
One of the earliest and most notable historical figures bearing this name was Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1392 to 1430. He was a skilled military leader and played a crucial role in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, which marked a significant victory over the Teutonic Knights.
Another prominent individual was Witold Pilecki (1901-1948), a Polish cavalry officer who volunteered to be imprisoned at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II to gather intelligence and organize resistance efforts. His heroic actions and subsequent report detailing the atrocities at Auschwitz were instrumental in exposing the horrors of the Holocaust.
In the realm of arts and literature, Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969) was a renowned Polish novelist and dramatist known for his avant-garde and satirical works, such as the novel "Ferdydurke" and the play "Princess Ivona".
In the field of science, Witold Woyciechowski (1939-2017) was a Polish physicist who made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics and the development of particle accelerators.
Lastly, Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994) was a celebrated Polish composer and conductor, considered one of the preeminent figures in 20th-century classical music. His compositions, including the "Concerto for Orchestra" and "Symphony No. 3", incorporated elements of avant-garde and folk traditions, earning him international acclaim.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Witold over time
The chart below shows babies named Witold registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Witold, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Witold by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Witold 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4148 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3324 | 43 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3744 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Witold
- William 117,982
- Wilfred 5,302
- Will 3,185
- Warren 2,787
- Wyatt 2,604
- Wesley 2,513
- Woody 1,951
- Walter 1,918
- Wiktor 1,354
- Wayne 979
- Wilbur 975
- Wade 902
FAQ
Witold: questions and answers
How popular is the name Witold in the UK right now?
In 2023, Witold was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Witold most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 7 babies registered as Witold in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Witold?
From Old Slavic origins meaning "well-renowned" or "widely-famous".
How many people are called Witold in the UK?
A total of 59 babies have been registered as Witold across the 12 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.