Winifred

At a Glance

Meaning

Joy and peace (Old English), merged with the separate Welsh name Gwenfrewi

Origin

Old English / Welsh (conflated names)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

WIN-ih-fredListen

Winifred (pronounced WIN-ih-fred) blends two separate name histories: an Old English compound read as 'joy and peace,' later merged with the distinct Welsh name Gwenfrewi. You may see Winifred glossed as 'blessed peacemaking' or simply 'peace,' but that specific reading actually belongs to Gwenfrewi — it isn't a confirmed meaning of the original Old English name it merged with.

Meaning & Origin of Winifred

Meaning: Joy and peace (Old English), merged with the separate Welsh name Gwenfrewi.

Origin: Old English / Welsh (conflated names).

A common claim: Commonly glossed as meaning 'blessed peacemaking' or 'peace.' Actually: That precise gloss belongs to the separate Welsh name Gwenfrewi, which got conflated with Winifred — it isn't a confirmed reading of the original Old English compound.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Winifred

Popularity of Winifred

Winifred peaked at #141 on the SSA charts in 1917, with 1,526 girls given the name that year; by 2024 it had dropped to #1031, with just 244 girls named Winifred.

Names Like Winifred

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

• Angharad
• Anwen
• Bethan
• Branwen
• Eleri
• Guinevere

FAQ

What does the name Winifred mean?

Joy and peace (Old English), merged with the separate Welsh name Gwenfrewi. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Winifred?

Winifred is pronounced WIN-ih-fred (IPA: /ˈwɪnɪfrɪd/).

Is Winifred a popular name right now?

Winifred peaked at #141 in 1917 and is ranked #1031 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Winifred Name Art

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