Mildred Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Mildred has origins in Old English, meaning 'gentle strength'. It evolved from earlier forms such as Mildeard and Mildryth. While it gained popularity in early medieval England due to religious associations, it has since declined in use but is still recognized for its vintage appeal. It has no biblical relevance.
The name Mildred is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Mildred has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Mildred' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 939th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1252nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3597th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8770th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 41st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 189th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 524th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1317th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2329th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2112th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Mildred' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Mildred"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɪldrɪd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Mildred comes from the Old English elements 'milde' meaning 'mild' or 'gentle' and 'þryð' meaning 'strength' or 'power'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'gentle strength'.
Meaning
gentle strength
Language Evolution
Mildeard, Mildryth, Mildred
Historical Usage
Mildred was popularized in the 7th century due to St. Mildred, an abbess in England, and it remained common through the Middle Ages but saw a decline in usage by the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Millie, Milly, Mild, Mildredina
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Mildred is considered somewhat old-fashioned and less common, often associated with vintage charm and nostalgia.
Famous People
Mildred Barry, Mildred Dresselhaus, Mildred Bailey
Explore More Mildred Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Mildred"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Mildred"
"Mildred" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 939th of 7545 | 853 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1252nd of 6773 | 559 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3597th of 7552 | 94 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8770th of 10718 | 12 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6th of 9107 | 282,619 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 41st of 9204 | 105,140 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 189th of 12526 | 33,935 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 524th of 19264 | 5,923 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1317th of 27321 | 1,880 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2329th of 35406 | 1,222 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2112th of 30306 | 1,082 |
Regional Popularity of "Mildred" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
70.63% 974th/1379 |
57.23% 1354th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
62.02% 965th/1556 |
69.95% 1646th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Mildred" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
0.56% 8th/1416 |
0.87% 12th/1379 |
0.30% 7th/2366 |
1.23% 14th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
4.08% 63rd/1546 |
3.98% 62nd/1556 |
0.93% 22nd/2353 |
5.43% 84th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
11.45% 255th/2227 |
7.70% 187th/2430 |
4.35% 124th/2853 |
12.76% 354th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
20.91% 614th/2937 |
11.02% 384th/3483 |
12.71% 447th/3518 |
23.37% 945th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
45.43% 1674th/3685 |
22.82% 1021st/4475 |
25.18% 1308th/5194 |
22.54% 1424th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
77.13% 3534th/4582 |
51.78% 2674th/5164 |
31.59% 2310th/7313 |
26.45% 1974th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
50.03% 1993rd/3984 |
52.80% 2369th/4487 |
31.69% 2162nd/6822 |
42.37% 2659th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Mildred"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Mildred" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.