Holding steady.
Popularity of Winfrey since 1913
Babies named Winfrey per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1932, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Winfrey's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 32 |
| 1920s | 51 |
| 1930s | 22 |
| 1940s | 25 |
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Winfrey is a rare masculine given name with Old English origins, meaning 'friend of peace'. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1913, its peak year, and has seen only sporadic use since then. The name has remained stable with very low usage; in the most recent data year (2025), it still falls below the threshold for a top 1000 ranking. Winfrey is primarily known as a surname, and its use as a first name is largely limited to families honoring the surname or the cultural figure Oprah Winfrey.
Winfrey derives from the Old English name Winfriþ, composed of wine 'friend' and friþ 'peace'. It was borne by an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon saint, though the name fell out of common use after the Middle Ages. In modern times it is best known as a surname, notably of media personality Oprah Winfrey, whose given name was inspired by the biblical Oprah.
Sibling names for Winfrey
Names that share Winfrey's style, for a brother or sister.
