Winslet: Baby Name of the Day

The baby name Winslet is borrowed from a Hollywood A-lister, but it sounds like a trending choice for a daughter.

Thanks to Kenneth for suggesting Winslet as our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME WINSLET MEAN?

Also spelled Winslett, this is a surname name with murky origins. 

It’s probably a place name, originally Winesflot or Winslode, with plenty of other spellings over the years.

Wine is a common element in Old English given names. It means friend, and persists in Edwin, Alvin, Marvin, and Winifred, too. It could also come from the Old English word for wide. And Wyn or Wynn is a Welsh name meaning fair.

The second element likely referred to a channel of water – Wynn’s channel – or possibly a valley.

Two Winslades are still found on the map in England today. 

Just like any place name, it sometimes became a surname. And nearly every surname can leap into the first name spot sometimes.

KATE WINSLET

Except Winslet was quite rare, as last names go.

It wasn’t until English actress Kate Winslet made her mark that this surname name started to trend.

Born into a family of aspiring actors, her big break came in 1994. She was cast in Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures. That led to a role in Sense and Sensibility, earning her first Oscar nomination.

Then came Titanic, and it was huge.

The year was 1997, and Leonardo DiCaprio – cast as the heroic, romantic Jack – had already been nominated for an Oscar. Kate was still a relative unknown, but they both became mega-stars after the movie became an international smash, winning eleven Oscars.

Her career has flourished since then. She’s won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Grammy, plus a handful of Golden Globes and other awards, has put her surname in the spotlight.

Kate is the mother of three kids. Her daughter, Mia Honey Threapleton, is now an actress. She is also the parent of sons Joe Alfie and Bear Blaze.

She’s also known for supporting a wide range of humanitarian causes.

WINNING SOUND

The baby name Winslet doesn’t succeed because of the actress. Not exactly.

We do love Hollywood-inspired surnames like Harlow and rock legend last names like Hendrix and Lennon.

But Winslet fits two other trends in popular names:

• The nicknameWinnie has helped us discover so many fabulous Win- names. Winifred recently returned to the US Top 1000. Winona and Winslow are rising in rank, too. Elowyn is another rising choice.
• We also love et/-ette ending names. On the boys’ side that means Everett, Beckett, and Wyatt. And for girls? Colette, Scarlett, and Juliet/Juliette are among the most popular choices. 

Also worth noting: Winston is climbing in use for boys, too.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME WINSLET?

As a girl name, Winslet debuted in the US Social Security Administration data in 2014, with six baby girls receiving the name.

It’s risen in popularity since, reaching a peak of 33 births in 2023. 

That still puts Winslet in the unique names category. But  it would fit in with current trends nicely, and could easily shorten to popular nickname Winnie.

RISING FAVORITE

The girl name Winslet remains strongly associated with the actress. Choose this for your daughter, and others will inevitably ask if you’re a fan.

But it could be the perfect name for parents seeking something familiar but distinctive. It’s a name that fits with the latest trends, but feels nicely timeless, too. It’s a bit like Colette: feminine, strong, and graceful.

What do you think of the baby name Winslet? 

First published on September 2, 2015, this post was revised on May 1, 2025.