Winnie the Pooh, the fictional teddy bear created by A. A. Milne, first appeared by name in a story published for Christmas Eve 1925, with the first book Winnie-the-Pooh released in 1926

. The original stuffed bear that inspired the character was given to Milne's son Christopher Robin on August 21, 1921, which is often considered Pooh's "birthday"

. As of 2025, the character Winnie the Pooh is about 99 years old if counting from the toy's gift date in 1921, or about 99 years old from the character's first story appearance in 1926. The bear's enduring popularity has spanned nearly a century, with the stories and character beloved worldwide

. In summary:

• Pooh's "birth" as a toy: August 21, 1921 (about 103 years ago)
• Pooh's literary debut: Christmas 1925, book published 1926 (about 99 years ago)

Thus, Winnie the Pooh is nearly 100 years old as a fictional character and over 100 years old as the original toy inspiration