Gottfried, derived from Old German elements 'gud' meaning 'god' and 'fridu' signifying 'peace', was a popular given name during the Middle Ages. It was particularly prevalent among the Germanic peoples, notably in regions where Old High German was spoken. The name fell out of common usage over time but remains historically significant as it was borne by notable figures such as Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a prominent German polymath and philosopher.
The name Gottfried experienced its peak popularity during the World War I years, with a notable high of 12 births in 1918. However, it seems to have declined in popularity afterwards, with only a handful of births recorded each year from 1919 onwards. The total number of births over this period is 115.