Fun Facts About the Name Windham
- 53 babies named Windham: U.S. records list 53 babies given the name Windham from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Windham Mean?
Windham is an English habitational name meaning "Wigmund's homestead." It comes from Old English: the personal name Wigmund (also written Wymund) joined with hām, meaning "homestead, village, estate." The personal name itself is built from wīg, "war" or "battle," and mund, "protection" or "guardian."
The surname is tied to the English place name Wymondham. The older spelling and the later spelling Windham represent the same name; the shorter form reflects the way the middle syllable was lost in speech, so that Wymondham is pronounced the same as Windham. The variant Wyndham is another spelling of the same surname rather than a separate origin.
The element written wind- in the modern spelling has nothing to do with the English word for moving air. It is a worn-down form of the personal name Wigmund.
Windham Name History & Origins
Windham is a surname before it is a first name. It comes from an English place, chiefly Wymondham in Norfolk, which is recorded in Domesday Book. The place name began as a compound of the personal name Wigmund and the word hām, "homestead."
In the Middle Ages the place was written Wymondham, but everyday speech shortened the middle syllable, and from that pronunciation came the spellings Windham and Wyndham. Both became settled surnames; Windham became the usual form in some families while Wyndham became common in others. The Windham family of Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk is among the best known, and the politician William Windham (1750 - 1810) belonged to it.
The name crossed the Atlantic with English colonists and was reused for places in North America. Towns named Windham were founded in Connecticut and in New Hampshire, and Windham County in Connecticut and Windham County in Vermont also carry the name.
Windham remains chiefly a surname and place name. It is also found occasionally as a given name, mostly for boys in the United States.
How Popular is the Name Windham?
Windham has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #5,416 in 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,840 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #5,416 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #8,790 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #13,970 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #8,114 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Windham Shapes Your Personality and Life?
To express itself, you must follow the divine law of love. You have great persistence and hate to give up. You are a good mixer, charming, magnetic and intuitive. The spirituality is the key to success. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Windham's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Windham's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.