Wilfred
Boy name · #3758 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Wilfred? In official American birth records, Wilfred has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Wilfred is currently the #3758 boy name in the United States — 29 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #4295, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 62,069 boys born in 2025 was named Wilfred.
The 145-year story
Wilfred first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 21 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 802 boys were named Wilfred — good for #176 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Wilfred per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Wilfred against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wilfred in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wilfred is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Wilfred will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Wilfred is most common
State-level data for Wilfred is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Wilfred
Statistically, parents drawn to Wilfred tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Willard, Fred, Wilbur, Weldon, and Russel.
WillardFredWilburWeldonRusselWillisEdmondRudolph
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wilfred | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | #3757 |
| 2024 | 21 | #4701 |
| 2023 | 29 | #3802 |
| 2022 | 24 | #4303 |
| 2021 | 39 | #3074 |
| 2020 | 27 | #3811 |
| 2019 | 25 | #4114 |
| 2018 | 28 | #3793 |
| 2017 | 23 | #4331 |
| 2016 | 33 | #3358 |
| 2015 | 23 | #4295 |
| 2014 | 28 | #3693 |
| 2013 | 30 | #3497 |
| 2012 | 18 | #5035 |
| 2011 | 23 | #4221 |
| 2010 | 31 | #3453 |
| 2009 | 21 | #4582 |
| 2008 | 33 | #3344 |
| 2007 | 32 | #3379 |
| 2006 | 29 | #3524 |
| 2005 | 31 | #3241 |
| 2004 | 40 | #2643 |
| 2003 | 31 | #3044 |
| 2002 | 44 | #2337 |
| 2001 | 40 | #2429 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Wilfred?
In official American birth records, the name Wilfred first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 21 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Wilfred a popular boy name?
Wilfred ranked #3758 among boys in 2025 with 29 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4295.
When was the name Wilfred most popular?
Wilfred peaked in 1920, when 802 American boys received the name (ranked #176 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Wilfred?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 62,069 newborn American boys was named Wilfred. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.