Winnifred is a unique and elegant given name of English origin. It is composed of two elements: "Win" or "Winnie," which means "friend," and "fred," which means "peace." Therefore, the name Winnifred signifies "peaceful friend."
The name Winnifred has a rich history, dating back to the Middle Ages in England. It was often used as a nickname for women named after Saint Winifred, a Welsh saint who is said to have been beheaded and miraculously resurrected by Saint Beuno.
Winnifred was also popular among the British aristocracy during the Victorian era. One notable bearer of the name was Winnifred "Winnie" Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela and a prominent anti-apartheid activist in South Africa.
Despite its historical roots and royal associations, the name Winnifred remains relatively rare today, adding to its uniqueness and charm. It is often shortened to Win or Winnie, but it can also stand alone as a beautiful and distinctive given name.
Statistics show that the name Winniefred has seen varied popularity over time in the United States. In the years between 1915 and 1932, there were a total of 54 births registered with this name. The years with the highest number of births were 1917 and 1920, each with 9 and 6 births respectively. However, it appears that the popularity of the name Winniefred started to decline after 1924, as there were only 5 births recorded in that year and the subsequent years until 1932. Despite this decrease in popularity over time, it is still interesting to note that Winniefred was chosen as a baby girl's name for at least one child each year during this period. This demonstrates that even though the name may not have been widely popular, it was still considered by some parents as a unique and meaningful choice for their daughters.