Winifred

Winifred - A very unique female name

Winifred appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #186. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Winifred and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Winifred? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Winifred. The baby girl name Winifred was given to 224 baby girls in 2025, ranking #950 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 5,819 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Winifred peaked in popularity 109 years ago in 1917 on position 141.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Winifred, 1-5?

Winifred is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Winifred is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #479 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,706.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Winifred is where you live.

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Winifred origin and meaning

Welsh

From Welsh Gwenfrewi — gwen, 'fair, blessed', and frewi, 'reconciliation, peace': 'blessed peace'

Winifred is the anglicised name of Saint Gwenfrewi, a 7th-century Welsh princess and martyr whose holy well at Holywell is still visited. The English spelling was influenced by the similar Germanic name Winfried, but the Welsh saint is the name's true source in Britain. A Victorian and Edwardian staple, it vanished for decades and is now rising again — still rare, but with its best momentum in a century.

Attested etymology

Winifred is a 8 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Winifred, pop culture references for the name Winifred and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Winifred

We've found the following names that sound similar to Winifred, sorted by popularity.

Winnifred / Winfred /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Winifred

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Winifred a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Winifred?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

WIN-ih-fred · /ˈwɪnɪfrəd/

Around the world

• Gwenfrewi (Welsh) — The original Welsh form of the saint's name

Spellings and nicknames

• Winnifred — Double-n spelling variant
• Freda — A related short form from the name's second half

Nicknames: WinnieFredFreddie

Famous bearers

• Winifred Sanderson — The eldest of the witch sisters in the film Hocus Pocus (Fictional, 1993) Fictional

Style

Vintage revivalClassic

Why parents choose it

Winifred is a bold vintage revival pick: a saint's name with real substance, and the irresistibly soft Winnie built in for everyday use.

Worth knowing

• Most children will know it first from Hocus Pocus, where Winifred is the villain
• Fred and Freddie shortenings surprise people who expect only Winnie