Given name & surname
Winfrey
“a friend of peace”
In English use, Winfrey has a related form in Winfred. One English interpretation is “a friend of peace.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Winfrey has a related form in Winfred. One English interpretation is “a friend of peace.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Winfrey has a related form in Winfred. An origin associated with Winfred is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Winfrey through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 144
- 144 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1932
- 11 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 1958. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 11 in 1932. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 134 as a first name in 2020; 6,422 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Winfrey’s family of names
In English usage, Winfrey has a related form in Winfred.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Winfrey, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Wilford
“from the willow ford”
>99% boys
Werner
“of the defending army”
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Willian
“will” · “desire”
>99% boys
Wiley
“of the willows” · “one who is crafty; from the meadow by the water”
88% boys · 12% girls
Wilton
“from the town on the river”
>99% boys
Wilfred
“one who wishes for peace”
>99% boys
Wilbert
“one who is willful; a bright man”
>99% boys
Webb
“a weaver”
>99% boys