Winifred, derived from the Old German elements 'win' meaning 'joy', and 'frodo' meaning 'peace', is a unique and distinctive given name of Germanic origin. This name was popularized by Saint Winifred, also known as Gwenfrewi in Welsh, who was a 7th-century Christian martyr. She is revered as a saint in both Wales and England. The name Winifred was traditionally more common among the Welsh but has since gained international recognition. It is often shortened to Winnie or Freddie for everyday use. Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne this name, including the British writer Winifred Holtby and American painter Winifred Jourdonnais, further contributing to its rich heritage and unique charm.
The name Winifred saw a significant rise in popularity between the years of 1913 to 1918, with a peak of 47 births in 1918. However, it's important to note that these numbers may not reflect recent trends as the last recorded data is from 1989. Overall, there were a total of 1106 births named Winifred during this period.