The first name Wilfred
A boy’s name from English meaning “will”, “peace”.
Pronounced /ˈwɪlfɹɪd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Wilfred means “will”, “peace” in English.
The name of two early Anglo-Saxon saints Wilfriþ, from Old English wil (“will”) + friþ (“peace”).
More names that mean peace.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 475 boys were named Wilfred, making it the 113th most popular boys’ name.
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Wilfred with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Wilfred at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 29 boys born in the United States were named Wilfred, the 3,844th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1920, when 802 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Wilfred in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Wilfred in Dutch too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Wilfred
24 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Wilfred OwenEnglish Skateboarder 1893-1918)
- Wilfred BoumaDutch footballer (born 1978)
- Wilfred ThesigerBritish explorer, military officer, writer and botanical collector (1910-2003)
- Wilfred BionBritish psychoanalyst & psychiatrist (1897–1979)
- Wilfred JacksonAmerican film director (1906–1988)
- Wilfred LucasActor, Film director (1871–1940)
- Wilfred Hudson OsgoodAmerican zoologist (1875-1947)
- Wilfred WatersEnglish racing cyclist, 1923–2006
- Wilfred RhodesCricket player of England. (1877-1973)
- Wilfred WhiteBritish equestrian (1904–1995)
- Wilfred Cantwell SmithCanadian academic (1916–2000)
- Wilfred BurchettAustralian journalist (1911-1983)
More English boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Wilfred mean?
- Wilfred means “will”, “peace” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Wilfred?
- The name of two early Anglo-Saxon saints Wilfriþ, from Old English wil (“will”) + friþ (“peace”).
- How popular is the name Wilfred?
- In 2025, 475 boys born in England and Wales were named Wilfred, ranking 113th.
- What are nicknames for Wilfred?
- Common nicknames for Wilfred include Wilf.
- Is Wilfred a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 29,520 US babies named Wilfred since 1880 were boys.
- When was Wilfred most popular?
- 1920 in the United States, when 802 babies were named Wilfred, its highest rank at 176th.
- How do you pronounce Wilfred?
- Wilfred is /ˈwɪlfɹɪd/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Wilfred?
- Wilfrid and Wildred.
- Is Wilfred also a surname?
- Yes. Wilfred is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.