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Winsley

♀ Girl

Pronounced WINZ-lee /ˈwɪnz.li/High

Meaning: From an English surname and place name, likely 'Wine's clearing' — the Old English personal name Wine, 'friend', plus leah, 'clearing'Medium

In 30 seconds: A genuine English village name with 'win' built into its smile: Winsley likely began as 'Wine's clearing' — and Wine, sweetly, meant 'friend'. Kate Winslet fans hear the echo too.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom an English surname and place name, likely 'Wine's clearing' — the Old English personal name Wine, 'friend', plus leah, 'clearing'

U.S. rank (2025)#1832 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births110 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 348

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Winsley is an English surname from villages in Wiltshire and Derbyshire, generally parsed as 'Wine's clearing' — the Old English personal name Wine, 'friend', joined to leah, the woodland clearing that ends a hundred English place names. As a girls' first name it is a twenty-first-century American adoption, drafted into the -sley club of Ainsley and Tinsley.

The sound-alike surname Winslet (actress Kate) and the win- opening give it a champion's ring. U.S. usage remains very rare and recent.

Did you know? The Old English name Wine inside Winsley simply meant 'friend' — it survives in names like Edwin ('rich friend') and Alvin ('elf friend').

Overall data confidence 70%

Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names — Winsley — place etymology, partly uncertain

Variations

WinsleeWinsleighWinslet

Nicknames

WinWinnie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Winsley…

Ainsley— the template -sley surname-name for girls

Tinsley— a fellow tailored Southern-prep surname pick

Winnie— the vintage nickname Winsley unlocks

Wrenley— another recent W-coinage in the -ley wave

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Winsley mean?

Winsley comes from an English place name, most likely 'Wine's clearing' — and the Old English name Wine meant 'friend'.

How do you pronounce Winsley?

It's said WINZ-lee /ˈwɪnz.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Winsley a boy or girl name?

Winsley is used today mainly as a girl's name.

How popular is Winsley?

Winsley is a very rare, recently adopted name in the U.S.