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Home › Baby Names Directory › Wilfred

Wilfred

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIL-frəd /ˈwɪl.frəd/High

Meaning: From Old English Wilfrith, 'desiring peace', from wil, 'will, desire', plus frith, 'peace'Medium

In 30 seconds: Desiring peace: Wilfred is Old English 'will + peace'. Vintage, gentle, and strong (poet Wilfred Owen).
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Origin MediumEnglish, German
MeaningFrom Old English Wilfrith, 'desiring peace', from wil, 'will, desire', plus frith, 'peace'
U.S. rank (2025)#3844 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births29 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 29,417

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

Wilfred comes from Old English Wilfrith, 'desiring peace' — from wil, 'will, desire', plus frith, 'peace'. A vintage, gentle yet strong name (St Wilfrid; the war poet Wilfred Owen); nicknames Will, Fred, or Wilf.

It registers thinly today. Rare now, desiring-peace at the root, and vintage.

Did you know? Wilfred means 'desiring peace' (Old English wil + frith, 'will' + 'peace') — a vintage, gentle name (St Wilfrid; war poet Wilfred Owen); nickname Will or Fred.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name — Wilfred — etymology

Variations

WilfridWilfredoWilf

Nicknames

WillFredWilf

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Wilfred…

Wilfredo— the Spanish form
Winifred— a fellow Win-/Wil- vintage name
Alfred— another -fred vintage name
Warren— a fellow English choice
Walter— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Wilfred

By themeenglishvintagegermansaint
By meaningPeace

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Wilfred mean?

Wilfred is Old English for 'desiring peace' (will + peace).

How do you pronounce Wilfred?

It's said WIL-frəd /ˈwɪl.frəd/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Wilfred a boy or girl name?

Wilfred is a boy's name.

How popular is Wilfred?

Wilfred is a rare name in the U.S. today.

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