Given name
Winnifred
“peaceful friend”·“fair; white-skinned”
In English use, Winnifred has a related form in Winifred. Interpretations include “peaceful friend” and “fair; white-skinned”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Winnifred has a related form in Winifred. Interpretations include “peaceful friend” and “fair; white-skinned”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Winnifred has a related form in Winifred. An origin associated with Winifred is Welsh.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Winnifred through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,127
- 0 boys · 5,127 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 166 babies
- 2025
- 70
- #2,540 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +73%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 70 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,540 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 72.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 166 in 1918. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,854 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Winnifred’s family of names
In English usage, Winnifred has a related form in Winifred.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Winnifred
- Winnifred Mason HuckAmerican politician1882–1936
- Winnifred SelbyGhanaian social entrepreneur
- Winnie SorgdragerDutch politicianborn 1948
- Winnifred EatonCanadian writer author1875–1954
- Winnifred Harper CooleyAmerican author and lecturer1874–1967
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Winnifred, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mildred
“woman of gentle strength”
>99% girls
Inez
“one who is pure; chaste”
1% boys · 99% girls
Jennie
“one who is fair; a beautiful girl”
>99% girls
Elvira
“a-truthful woman; one who can be trusted”
>99% girls
Lennie
“having the strength of a lion”
12% boys · 88% girls
Novella
Novella is a surname from Italian, ultimately from Catalan. It is used in English and Italian.
>99% girls
Tillie
“one who is mighty in battle” · “the power of the people”
>99% girls
Dorothea
“a gift of God”
>99% girls