Gender Masculine
Pronounced Pron. BAWLD-win(English)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Means "bold friend", derived from the Old German elements bald "bold, brave" and wini "friend". In the Middle Ages this was a popular name in Flanders and among the Normans, who brought it to Britain. It was borne by one of the leaders of the First Crusade, an 11th-century nobleman from Flanders. After the crusaders conquered Jerusalem, he was crowned as the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Related Names

VariantBaldewin(Germanic)
DiminutiveBaldo(Germanic)
Other Languages & CulturesBoudewijn, Boele(Dutch) Baudouin(French) Baldo, Baldovino(Italian) Balduíno(Portuguese) Baldo, Balduino(Spanish)
Surname DescendantBaldwin(English)

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   wholesome   strong   refined   strange   serious  

Categories

Sources & References

  1. Förstemann, Ernst. Altdeutsches Namenbuch. Bonn, 1900, page 242.
Entry updated December 7, 2022