Wilfred
The name of two early Anglo-Saxon saints Wilfriþ, from Old English wil (“will”) + friþ (“peace”).
Every Wilfred since 1880 — 29,520 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Wilfred
Wilfred is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,844 in 2025 with 29 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 29,520 American babies have been named Wilfred. Its peak came in 1920, when 811 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wilfred stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Wilfred year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 29 | #3,844 |
| 2024 | — | — | 21 | #4,877 |
| 2023 | — | — | 29 | #3,873 |
| 2022 | — | — | 24 | #4,434 |
| 2021 | — | — | 39 | #3,118 |
| 2020 | — | — | 27 | #3,914 |
| 2019 | — | — | 25 | #4,222 |
| 2018 | — | — | 28 | #3,883 |
| 2017 | — | — | 23 | #4,459 |
| 2016 | — | — | 33 | #3,438 |
| 2015 | — | — | 23 | #4,398 |
| 2014 | — | — | 28 | #3,782 |
| 2013 | — | — | 30 | #3,577 |
| 2012 | — | — | 18 | #5,239 |
| 2011 | — | — | 23 | #4,343 |
| 2010 | — | — | 31 | #3,523 |
| 2009 | — | — | 21 | #4,740 |
| 2008 | — | — | 33 | #3,415 |
| 2007 | — | — | 32 | #3,441 |
| 2006 | — | — | 29 | #3,597 |
| 2005 | — | — | 31 | #3,314 |
| 2004 | — | — | 40 | #2,694 |
| 2003 | — | — | 31 | #3,115 |
| 2002 | — | — | 44 | #2,371 |
| 2001 | — | — | 40 | #2,488 |
| 2000 | — | — | 42 | #2,329 |
| 1995 | — | — | 42 | #2,025 |
| 1990 | — | — | 57 | #1,515 |
| 1985 | — | — | 78 | #1,048 |
| 1980 | — | — | 74 | #1,054 |
| 1975 | — | — | 76 | #944 |
| 1970 | — | — | 145 | #690 |
| 1965 | — | — | 198 | #546 |
| 1960 | — | — | 249 | #503 |
| 1955 | — | — | 283 | #438 |
| 1950 | — | — | 305 | #385 |
| 1945 | — | — | 293 | #349 |
| 1940 | — | — | 325 | #313 |
| 1935 | — | — | 409 | #271 |
| 1930 | — | — | 601 | #216 |
| 1925 | 6 | #4,955 | 737 | #188 |
| 1920 | 9 | #3,591 | 802 | #176 |
| 1915 | 11 | #2,682 | 626 | #181 |
| 1910 | 5 | #2,776 | 97 | #243 |
| 1905 | — | — | 75 | #222 |
| 1900 | — | — | 81 | #223 |
| 1895 | — | — | 41 | #278 |
| 1890 | — | — | 45 | #255 |
| 1885 | — | — | 37 | #276 |
| 1880 | — | — | 21 | #380 |
Famous people named Wilfred
- Wilfred the Hairy Politician · 840–897
- Wilfred Bion Psychologist · 1897–1979
- Wilfred Owen Writer · 1893–1918
- Wilfred Thesiger Explorer · 1910–2003
- Wilfred Baddeley Tennis player · 1872–1929
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wilfred mean?
The name of two early Anglo-Saxon saints Wilfriþ, from Old English wil (“will”) + friþ (“peace”).
How popular is the name Wilfred in 2025?
Wilfred ranked #3,844 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 29 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Wilfred?
29,520 babies have been named Wilfred in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Wilfred most popular?
Wilfred peaked in 1920, when 811 newborns received the name.
Is Wilfred a boy or girl name?
Wilfred is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Wilfred rising or falling?
Wilfred has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Wilfred?
Well-known people named Wilfred include Wilfred the Hairy (politician), Wilfred Bion (psychologist), Wilfred Owen (writer).