Wilfred Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Wilfred is of Old English origin, meaning 'desiring peace'. It evolved through forms such as Wilfrid and Wilfredus. The name is linked to traits of peace and desire, and while it has no biblical relevance, it gained popularity during the medieval period due to Saint Wilfrid. Today, it is viewed as a traditional name, with notable figures such as Wilfred Owen contributing to its legacy.
The name Wilfred is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast 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, Wilfred has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Wilfred' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 190th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 274th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 451st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 742nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1255th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2982nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3895th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4238th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7165th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Wilfred' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wilfred"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪlfrɪd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Wilfred derives from the Old English elements 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'frid' meaning 'peace'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'desiring peace'.
Meaning
desiring peace
Language Evolution
Wilfrid, Wilfredus, Wilfrid
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the early medieval period, particularly in England, due to the influence of Saint Wilfrid, a prominent bishop and missionary.
Variants & Derivatives
Wilfrid, Wilf, Wil
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Wilfred is perceived as a traditional and somewhat vintage name, often associated with nobility and historical significance.
Famous People
Wilfred Owen, Wilfred Thesiger, Wilfred Laurier
Explore More Wilfred Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wilfred"
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 "Wilfred"
"Wilfred" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 190th of 7545 | 11,548 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 274th of 6773 | 7,749 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 451st of 7552 | 5,235 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 742nd of 10718 | 1,942 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1255th of 16616 | 1,133 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2982nd of 24088 | 553 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3895th of 23106 | 329 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4238th of 9107 | 82 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7165th of 9204 | 16 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Wilfred" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
11.16% 158th/1416 |
9.28% 128th/1379 |
14.29% 338th/2366 |
18.13% 207th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
15.59% 241st/1546 |
10.41% 162nd/1556 |
17.34% 408th/2353 |
16.22% 251st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
24.38% 543rd/2227 |
12.47% 303rd/2430 |
18.16% 518th/2853 |
15.46% 429th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
39.29% 1154th/2937 |
14.64% 510th/3483 |
23.05% 811th/3518 |
18.22% 737th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
55.28% 2037th/3685 |
21.09% 944th/4475 |
22.66% 1177th/5194 |
22.97% 1451st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
42.62% 2201st/5164 |
41.16% 3010th/7313 |
49.12% 3666th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
69.69% 3127th/4487 |
60.69% 4140th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Wilfred" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
100.00% 2366th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| 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) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Wilfred"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wilfred" 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.