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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hildred

Hildred

♀ Girl

Pronounced HIL-dred /ˈhɪl.drɛd/High

Meaning: Hildred comes from Old English roots — hild, 'battle,' joined to a second element such as raed, 'counsel' — and in practice it also worked as a blend of the older Hilda ('battle') and Mildred ('gentle strength'). It is a genuine turn-of-the-century name, not a modern invention, and was given to both sexes though far more often to girls.Low

In 30 seconds: Hildred (said 'HIL-dred') is an Edwardian-era name from Old English roots meaning 'battle-counsel' — a sturdy cousin of Hilda and Mildred with real vintage weight.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningHildred comes from Old English roots — hild, 'battle,' joined to a second element such as raed, 'counsel' — and in practice it also worked as a blend of the older Hilda ('battle') and Mildred ('gentle strength'). It is a genuine turn-of-the-century name, not a modern invention, and was given to both sexes though far more often to girls.
U.S. rank (1965)#6063 ↗ Rising
1965 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,404

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192318891965

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hildred is a true early-twentieth-century name, drawn from the Old English hild, 'battle,' with a 'counsel' element, and closely tied to Hilda and Mildred. It appears in the records from the 1880s, peaked around 1920, and had largely disappeared by the 1960s, riding the same wave and ebb as the other -dred and Hild- names of that generation.

Anyone named Hildred was almost certainly born in the early 1900s, making it a firmly great-grandmother-era name today. It sits in the group of stern Germanic names — Mildred, Winifred, Gertrude — that fell out of fashion mid-century and, unlike Ada or Hazel, has not yet returned. For a namer it offers the friendly nicknames Hildy and Dred and a strong, old-world monogram.

Did you know? Hildred sits right between Hilda and Mildred, and it worked as a blend of the two — a very early-1900s way of freshening a pair of old Germanic 'battle' names into one.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Hildred — Old English 'battle-counsel'; Hilda/Mildred blend; c.1920 peak

Variations

HildrethHildaMildred

Nicknames

HildyDred

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Hildred…

Mildred— the near-twin name Hildred blends with and echoes
Hilda— the older 'battle' name behind it
Winifred— a like -fred Edwardian vintage name
Gertrude— another sturdy Germanic name of the same era

Explore names like Hildred

By themevintagestrengthgermanic-rootedwardian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hildred mean?

Hildred is from Old English hild, 'battle,' with a 'counsel' element, and worked as a blend of Hilda and Mildred.

How do you pronounce Hildred?

It's said HIL-dred /ˈhɪl.drɛd/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hildred a boy or girl name?

Hildred is used as a girl's name, chiefly, though it was occasionally given to boys in its era.

How popular is Hildred?

Hildred was a modest early-twentieth-century choice that peaked in the early twenties and faded by mid-century; it remains rare and has not revived.

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