Winfred is a unique and distinctive name of English origin. It is derived from the Old Germanic elements 'Wini' meaning "friend" and 'fred' meaning "peace". Thus, the name Winfred signifies "bearing peace".
The name has its roots in medieval England, where it was used as a surname before evolving into a given name. One of the earliest known instances of the name is with Saint Winfred, a 7th-century Welsh saint who was venerated for her piety and miracles. According to legend, she was beheaded after refusing to marry a king, and her head was miraculously restored to her body. This story has contributed to the name's association with sanctity and devotion.
Throughout history, the name Winfred has been relatively rare but not entirely unknown. It was used in various forms such as Winfrith and Winfrid, often among royalty or the clergy. For instance, Saint Boniface, an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon missionary, was originally named Winfrid before adopting his Latin name.
Today, Winfred is still a uncommon name but continues to be chosen by parents who appreciate its unique sound and historical significance. It is a name that stands out while also being steeped in history and culture.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Winfred has seen a significant decline in popularity over the years in the United States. The highest number of births with this name occurred in 1917, with 214 births that year. However, this figure began to decline steadily until it reached an all-time low in recent years, with only 5 births each in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
The peak of Winfred's popularity can be observed between the early 1900s and the 1920s. During this period, it was a relatively common name, with over 100 births each year from 1905 to 1924, except for 1903 and 1925, where the number of births dropped below that threshold.
However, beginning in the late 1920s, there was a marked decrease in the popularity of the name Winfred. By the 1960s, the annual birth count had fallen to less than 100 each year, with only one exception in 1956 when there were 193 births.
In the decades that followed, the popularity of the name continued to decline, reaching a low point in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with fewer than 50 births per year. This trend has persisted into the 21st century, with recent years showing only single-digit figures for Winfred births.
In total, there have been 10,104 births in the United States with the name Winfred since records began. Despite its once-popular status, it appears that this name has fallen out of favor among parents choosing names for their newborns today.