Winnifred

At a Glance

Meaning

Blessed/fair + peace or reconciliation — traditionally rendered 'blessed peacemaking,' though the second element is disputed

Origin

Welsh (variant of Winifred/Gwenfrewi)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

WIN-ih-fredListen

Winnifred is a Welsh name, a variant of Winifred (Gwenfrewi), with a storybook, romantic feel to it. You may see it glossed as 'white wave,' but that's a mix-up — there's no 'wave' element in the original Welsh, and the traditional (still debated) meaning is closer to 'blessed peace' or reconciliation. It's pronounced WIN-ih-fred.

Meaning & Origin of Winnifred

Meaning: Blessed/fair + peace or reconciliation — traditionally rendered 'blessed peacemaking,' though the second element is disputed.

Origin: Welsh (variant of Winifred/Gwenfrewi).

A common claim: Often glossed as 'white wave' or 'blessed peacemaking.' Actually: 'White wave' appears to be a folk-etymology mix-up — there's no attested 'wave' element in Gwenfrewi; the traditional (still debated) gloss is closer to 'blessed reconciliation/peace.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Winnifred

Popularity of Winnifred

Winnifred hit its highest popularity back in 1888, ranking #419 with 36 babies given the name; by 2024 it ranked #2790, with 61 babies given the name that year.

Names Like Winnifred

These names share Winnifred’s style, era or origin.

• Angie
• Charity
• Dottie
• Essie
• Gracelyn
• Janie

FAQ

What does the name Winnifred mean?

Blessed/fair + peace or reconciliation — traditionally rendered ‘blessed peacemaking,’ though the second element is disputed. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Winnifred?

Winnifred is pronounced WIN-ih-fred (IPA: /ˈwɪnɪfrɛd/).

Is Winnifred a popular name right now?

Winnifred peaked at #419 in 1888 and is ranked #2790 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Winnifred Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Winnifred, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.