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Winifred

Girl name · 25 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Winifred: 25 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2024.

Winifred is a name of Welsh origin, derived from Gwenfrewi, meaning “blessed peace” or “white peace,” and firmly rooted in Celtic tradition. Its most famous bearer is the 7th-century Welsh saint Winifred (or Gwenfrewi), whose legend centres on a miraculous well in Holywell, Flintshire, a place still visited by pilgrims. In more recent times, the name was carried by novelist Winifred Holtby, author of South Riding, and by Trinidadian pianist Winifred Atwell, whose boogie-woogie hits charmed post-war Britain. The affectionate diminutive Winnie, forever linked with Winnie-the-Pooh, gives the name a gentle, timeless appeal. While Winifred was more common in early 20th-century Scotland