Winifred
From Old English Winfriþ, from Welsh Gwenfrewi.
Every Winifred since 1880 — 46,200 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Winifred
Winifred is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #923 in 2025 with 284 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 46,200 American babies have been named Winifred. Its peak came in 1918, when 1,640 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
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 Winifred stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Winifred 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 | 284 | #923 | — | — |
| 2024 | 245 | #1,033 | — | — |
| 2023 | 269 | #963 | — | — |
| 2022 | 229 | #1,094 | — | — |
| 2021 | 235 | #1,071 | — | — |
| 2020 | 222 | #1,104 | — | — |
| 2019 | 193 | #1,215 | — | — |
| 2018 | 154 | #1,440 | — | — |
| 2017 | 169 | #1,371 | — | — |
| 2016 | 147 | #1,540 | — | — |
| 2015 | 160 | #1,447 | — | — |
| 2014 | 100 | #1,995 | — | — |
| 2013 | 71 | #2,531 | — | — |
| 2012 | 49 | #3,359 | — | — |
| 2011 | 30 | #4,800 | — | — |
| 2010 | 22 | #6,172 | — | — |
| 2009 | 38 | #4,101 | — | — |
| 2008 | 29 | #5,135 | — | — |
| 2007 | 23 | #6,075 | — | — |
| 2006 | 27 | #5,225 | — | — |
| 2005 | 27 | #4,952 | — | — |
| 2004 | 21 | #5,957 | — | — |
| 2003 | 22 | #5,582 | — | — |
| 2002 | 21 | #5,664 | — | — |
| 2001 | 26 | #4,683 | — | — |
| 2000 | 21 | #5,487 | — | — |
| 1995 | 17 | #5,673 | — | — |
| 1990 | 33 | #3,358 | — | — |
| 1985 | 15 | #5,071 | — | — |
| 1980 | 29 | #3,066 | — | — |
| 1975 | 48 | #1,904 | — | — |
| 1970 | 85 | #1,284 | — | — |
| 1965 | 110 | #995 | 7 | #3,532 |
| 1960 | 162 | #821 | 8 | #3,332 |
| 1955 | 263 | #564 | 14 | #2,218 |
| 1950 | 297 | #470 | 13 | #2,206 |
| 1945 | 319 | #398 | 15 | #1,851 |
| 1940 | 384 | #325 | 17 | #1,734 |
| 1935 | 491 | #273 | 22 | #1,493 |
| 1930 | 699 | #230 | 21 | #1,643 |
| 1925 | 1,221 | #178 | 32 | #1,303 |
| 1920 | 1,432 | #160 | 40 | #1,138 |
| 1915 | 1,299 | #143 | 22 | #1,504 |
| 1910 | 370 | #185 | — | — |
| 1905 | 276 | #180 | 5 | #1,420 |
| 1900 | 302 | #177 | 5 | #1,504 |
| 1895 | 234 | #176 | — | — |
| 1890 | 204 | #171 | — | — |
| 1885 | 120 | #170 | — | — |
| 1880 | 92 | #150 | — | — |
Famous people named Winifred
- Winifred Wagner Writer · 1897–1980
- Winifred McNair Tennis player · 1877–1954
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Winifred mean?
From Old English Winfriþ, from Welsh Gwenfrewi.
How popular is the name Winifred in 2025?
Winifred ranked #923 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 284 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Winifred?
46,200 babies have been named Winifred in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Winifred most popular?
Winifred peaked in 1918, when 1,640 newborns received the name.
Is Winifred a boy or girl name?
Winifred is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 98% of babies with the name.
Is the name Winifred rising or falling?
Winifred is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Winifred?
Well-known people named Winifred include Winifred Wagner (writer), Winifred McNair (tennis player).