Baby name
Winifred
/WIN · ih · frid/
Meaning
“Possibly blessed reconciliation”
Possibly derived from the Welsh name Gwenfrewi, which combines elements meaning 'white, blessed' and 'reconciliation'; the English form may also carry the influence of the Old English masculine name Winfred. The name is tied to Saint Winifred, a probably legendary 7th-century Welsh martyr said to have been decapitated by a prince after she refused his advances.
Nicknames
winnie · freddie
Vibe
How it ages.
A quietly literary, Victorian-era name that reads as charmingly old-fashioned rather than currently fashionable.
The cultural moment.
In England and Wales it ranked #364 in 2025, up from #513 in 2021; in the United States it ranked #922 in 2025; it last ranked in Ireland (#93 in 1964) and New Zealand (#99 in 1940). Also spelled Winnifred.