Winifred is a feminine given name of Welsh origin and Old English derivation. It is composed of the elements "win" meaning "joy," "friend" or "peace," and "fred" which means "wise" or "noble." Therefore, Winifred can be translated as "joyful wisdom" or "noble peace."
The name Winifred was quite popular in medieval Wales and England. It is often associated with Saint Winifred, a Welsh martyr who lived in the seventh century. According to legend, she refused the advances of a prince named Caradoc and he became so enraged that he cut off her head. However, she was miraculously restored to life by her uncle, Saint Beuno.
The name Winifred remained in use throughout the Middle Ages but fell out of favor during the Victorian era when many old-fashioned names were abandoned. Nevertheless, it has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years and is now considered quite stylish once again. Today, Winifred is often shortened to Freddie or Fredi for everyday use.
In literature, one notable character named Winifred is the aunt of the protagonist in "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. In music, there was also a popular singer from the 1920s and '30s known professionally as Winifred Atwell, who was famous for her piano playing.
Overall, Winifred is an attractive, historic name with a lovely meaning that has been carried through generations and continues to be used today.
The name Winnefred has a unique history when it comes to its usage in the United States over the years. In 1916, there were 11 babies named Winnefred at birth, marking the highest number of occurrences for this name in any given year during the period between 1916 and 1930.
Over the next few years, the popularity of the name Winnefred fluctuated. In 1917, there were 8 births recorded with this name, indicating a slight decrease from the previous year's total. Then, we see another dip in usage during 1921 and 1924 when only 6 babies each year were named Winnefred.
However, between 1926 and 1930, there was a brief resurgence in the popularity of this name. During these five years, the number of births recorded for babies named Winnefred ranged from a low of 5 in 1930 to a high of 7 in 1926.
In total, between 1916 and 1930 inclusive, there were 49 babies born in the United States who were named Winnefred. While this figure might seem quite small compared to more popular names during these years, it's important to remember that each of these 49 individuals carried a name that was relatively uncommon at the time.
This data highlights how unique and distinctive the name Winnefred has been throughout history in the United States. Despite its fluctuations in popularity over time, this name continues to hold a certain charm for parents seeking an unusual yet elegant option for their children's namesake.