Winifred
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Winifred is a Welsh name meaning “blessed stream”. It is a common name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.7% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Winifred
Winifred is a name of Welsh origin, historically associated with the Welsh saint Winifred of Holywell. The name is composed of the elements gwyn, meaning white, blessed, or fair, and ffrwd, signifying a stream or flow. This compound structure likely honors the sacred spring associated with the legend of Saint Winifred. It became integrated into the wider English naming tradition through the veneration of this saint during the medieval period.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Winifred
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Winifred is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.7% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Winifred
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Winifred is listed under Common Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Common | 1 in every 27K births |
| United Kingdom | Common | 1 in every 3.7K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 25K births |
| Australia | Common | 1 in every 93K births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Winifred ranked #678 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It rose from #1,219 in 2024 — an improvement of 541 places. Winifred is showing upward momentum and gaining recognition.
Historically, its best recorded position was #125 in 1922. Its lowest recorded position was #4,526 in 2006. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name rose 622 places (from #1,300 to #678).
Name StyleMethodology
Winifred is classified as Timeless Girl Names because it appears across 100% of recorded years, averages 479 births per year over its full timeline, and still averages 270 births per year recently.Characteristics of the Name Winifred
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 3 syllables — Three-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 8 letters — Long Girl Names
- Starts with
- W — Girl Names Starting with W
- Ends with
- d — Girl Names Ending in “d”
Name AestheticMethodology
Winifred features three syllables with a declining stress pattern that evokes mid-century literary figures. It is tied to the historical Saint Winefride, a figure of significance in Welsh religious tradition. This creates a clear Vintage Revival aesthetic.
Middle Names For Winifred
Middle names used with WinifredMethodology
Winifred is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Winifred Ann · Winifred Louise · Winifred Elaine · Winifred Marie · Winifred JoView all 170 girl middle names.
- Total 255 middle names used with Winifred
- 27 boy middle names used with Winifred
- 55 unisex middle names used with Winifred
Middle name suggestions for WinifredMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Winifred is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “l”.
Examples: Winifred Leigh · Winifred Lynne · Winifred Lynch · Winifred Laine · Winifred Leach. View all 82 suggested middle names.
Names Similar to Winifred
Sound Like Winifred Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Winnifred
Spelled Like Winifred Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Winnifred · Winfrey
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Wendy · Wanda · Juanita · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Winifred Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Mildred · Jade · Gertrude · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Jennifer · Barbara · Margaret · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Winifred”
Dictionary Meaning of "Winifred"Methodology
A female given name from Welsh
More Info
How to Spell Winifred in ASL
- W
- i
- n
- i
- f
- r
- e
- d
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