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Home › Baby Names Directory › Mildred

Mildred

♀ Girl

Pronounced MIHL-drihd /ˈmɪl.dɹɪd/Medium

Meaning: Gentle strengthMedium

In 30 seconds: Mildred is an Old English name meaning 'gentle strength'.
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Origin MediumOld English, English
MeaningGentle strength
U.S. rank (2025)#1973 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births98 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 451,410

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192018802025

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

Mildred comes from Old English, where the original Mildþryð joined elements for mildness and strength to give the sense 'gentle strength'. It was the name of an early English abbess and saint and stayed in use for centuries. The older spelling sits behind the smoother modern form.

It has a sturdy, old-fashioned dignity, with Mildrid as a simpler variant spelling. Bearers include actress Mildred Dunnock and Mildred Harris, an early silent-film star.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Mildred is 'gentle strength', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Mildred — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MildþryðMildrid

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Mildred Dunnock (1901–1991)
    American stage and screen actress, twice Oscar-nominated for Death of a Salesman and Baby Doll.
  • ★Mildred Harris (1901–1944)
    American silent-film actress and first wife of Charlie Chaplin.

If you like Mildred…

Winifred— Shares an Old English root and the '-fred' style ending.
Audrey— Another Old English name worn by an early English saint.
Maple— shares Mildred's English roots
Mollie— shares Mildred's English roots
Marlow— shares Mildred's English roots

Explore names like Mildred

By themeenglishold-english
By meaningStrengthGentle / Kind

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mildred mean?

Mildred is usually explained as meaning 'gentle strength' and is most often linked with Old English tradition.

How do you pronounce Mildred?

It's commonly said MIHL-drihd /ˈmɪl.dɹɪd/.

Is Mildred a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Mildred is used as a girl name.

How popular is Mildred?

In 2024, Mildred ranked #2105 in the U.S. for girls, with 91 births recorded.

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