Winifred
Girl name · #922 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Winifred? In official American birth records, Winifred has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 284 baby girls were named Winifred, placing it at #922 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1437, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,338 girls born in 2025 was named Winifred.
The 145-year story
Winifred first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 92 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 1,593 girls were named Winifred — good for #144 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 Winifred per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Winifred against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Winifred in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Winifred is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Winifred will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Winifred is most common
Geography matters for names, and Winifred is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Winifred is most common in WI (0.5 per 1,000), MN (0.5 per 1,000), MA (0.5 per 1,000), CO (0.4 per 1,000), PA (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Winifred is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Winifred
Statistically, parents drawn to Winifred tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Winnifred, Wilhelmina, Harriet, Luella, and Eleanore.
WinnifredWilhelminaHarrietLuellaEleanoreGeorgianaEttaEstelle
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Winifred | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 284 | #922 |
| 2024 | 245 | #1027 |
| 2023 | 269 | #963 |
| 2022 | 229 | #1089 |
| 2021 | 235 | #1069 |
| 2020 | 222 | #1099 |
| 2019 | 193 | #1209 |
| 2018 | 154 | #1435 |
| 2017 | 169 | #1364 |
| 2016 | 147 | #1534 |
| 2015 | 160 | #1437 |
| 2014 | 100 | #1982 |
| 2013 | 71 | #2508 |
| 2012 | 49 | #3314 |
| 2011 | 30 | #4681 |
| 2010 | 22 | #5977 |
| 2009 | 38 | #4013 |
| 2008 | 29 | #5013 |
| 2007 | 23 | #5895 |
| 2006 | 27 | #5086 |
| 2005 | 27 | #4828 |
| 2004 | 21 | #5744 |
| 2003 | 22 | #5419 |
| 2002 | 21 | #5444 |
| 2001 | 26 | #4564 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Winifred?
In official American birth records, the name Winifred first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 92 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Winifred a popular girl name?
Winifred ranked #922 among girls in 2025 with 284 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1437.
When was the name Winifred most popular?
Winifred peaked in 1918, when 1,593 American girls received the name (ranked #144 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Winifred?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,338 newborn American girls was named Winifred. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.