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Winifred

♀ Girl

Pronounced WIN-ih-fred /ˈwɪn.ɪ.frɛd/High

Meaning: Anglicised form of Welsh Gwenfrewi, composed of gwen (white, fair, blessed) and frewi or frew (peace, reconciliation); meaning blessed peace or holy reconciliation; the name of a 7th-century Welsh martyr and saintHigh

In 30 seconds: Winifred is the anglicised form of the Welsh name Gwenfrewi meaning blessed peace or holy reconciliation, borne by a 7th-century Welsh martyr whose shrine at Holywell became one of the great pilgrimage sites of medieval Britain.
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Origin HighWelsh, Germanic
MeaningAnglicised form of Welsh Gwenfrewi, composed of gwen (white, fair, blessed) and frewi or frew (peace, reconciliation); meaning blessed peace or holy reconciliation; the name of a 7th-century Welsh martyr and saint
U.S. rank (2025)#923 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births284 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 45,093

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191818802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Winifred is the anglicised form of Welsh Gwenfrewi, composed of gwen (white, fair, blessed) and frewi (peace, reconciliation). According to Welsh tradition, Saint Winifred (Winefride) was a 7th-century Welsh noblewoman who was martyred by a local chieftain after refusing his advances; her uncle Saint Beuno restored her to life and a sacred spring arose where her head had fallen — the Well of St Winefride at Holywell. The anglicised form Winifred assimilated the Welsh name to the German masculine name Winfried (blessed peace from Germanic win and fred).

Winifred was popular in medieval England as a saint's name and was later revived in the Victorian era alongside other Welsh and Celtic names. It reached its English-speaking peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Nicknames Winnie and Freddie give it excellent everyday usability. In the 21st century Winifred is experiencing a quiet revival as parents rediscover elaborate Victorian and medieval names — a trend that has also brought Millicent, Clementine, and Hermione back to conversation. Winnie is particularly fashionable independently.

Did you know? The Well of St Winefride (Saint Winifred) at Holywell in Flintshire, Wales, has been a pilgrimage site for over 1,300 years — it is considered the oldest continuously visited pilgrimage site in Britain and is still visited by thousands annually, making the name Winifred one of the very few connected to an active living pilgrimage tradition.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Winifred — Welsh etymology and saint history

Variations

GwenfrewiWinifredeWinnifred

Nicknames

WinnieFreddieFredWin

Famous Bearers

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If you like Winifred…

Clementine— three-syllable Victorian-era feminine name with the same elaborate, melodic character
Millicent— three-syllable Victorian revival name with comparable Germanic medieval roots
Evangeline— four-syllable Victorian feminine name with the same romantic, literary historical appeal
Hermione— three-syllable Greek/English name sharing Winifred's elaborate, literary vintage quality

Frequently Asked

What does Winifred mean?

Winifred comes from Welsh Gwenfrewi, meaning blessed peace or holy reconciliation.

How do you pronounce Winifred?

It is said WIN-ih-fred — three syllables, stress on the first.

Who was Saint Winifred?

Saint Winifred was a 7th-century Welsh martyr whose holy well at Holywell, Wales, has been a pilgrimage site for over 1,300 years.

What are nicknames for Winifred?

The most popular nicknames are Winnie and Freddie.