A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Winifred since 1880
Babies named Winifred per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,309 |
| 1890s | 2,293 |
| 1900s | 2,689 |
| 1910s | 10,255 |
| 1920s | 12,083 |
| 1930s | 5,289 |
| 1940s | 3,724 |
| 1950s | 2,501 |
| 1960s | 1,252 |
| 1970s | 461 |
| 1980s | 213 |
| 1990s | 191 |
| 2000s | 255 |
| 2010s | 1,095 |
| 2020s | 1,484 |
Meaning & origin
Winifred has traveled a long arc through American naming history. It first appeared on the U.S. charts in 1880 (with a rank of 922 in 2025 already signaling a resurgence), but its true heyday came in 1917 when it peaked in popularity. After falling out of favor for most of the 20th century, it has been climbing again since 1995, and the data shows a rising trajectory that continues into the 2020s. Its revival echoes the revival decade of the 1910s, making it a classic that feels fresh once more. In 2025, about 1 in 5,659 girls were named Winifred. Top states for the name include NE, OR, and WI, suggesting a steady but concentrated appeal across the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
Winifred is anglicized from the Welsh name Gwenfrewi, composed of elements gwen (white, fair, blessed) and frewi (reconciliation, peace). Saint Winifred (Welsh: Gwenfrewi) was a 7th-century Welsh martyr and abbess, whose shrine at Holywell in Wales became a major pilgrimage site. The name entered English usage by the Middle Ages and remained consistently used, especially in Wales and the border counties.
Where Winifred is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Winnie, Freda, Winn
Sibling names for Winifred
Names that share Winifred's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Beatrice, Edith, Mabel, Esther, Florence, Edwina, Annice, Ardath, Gearldine, Glendora, Ardyth, Elfreda, Hildreth, Jennetta, Maybelline, Merline, Armilda, Genella, Grizelda, Lovett, Petronella, Wilmoth, Earnestene, Georgenia, Geraldin
Brothers: Albert, Arthur, Clarence, Ernest, Harold, Rupert, Eldred, Melville, Oswald, Rodrick, Silvester, Thurston, Wendel, Sandford, Burdett, Everard, Gervase, Ormand, Osborn, Osmond, Aldwin, Cuthbert, Gerrald
