Meaning and Origin of the Name Wilfred

The name Wilfred has been around since Saint Wilfrid who was a seventh century Anglo-Saxon bishop. He was born in Northumbrian in the North of England.

The meaning of Wilfred in English is “desires peace”.

Popularity

Although it’s been around since then the popularity of Wilfred wasn’t revived until the 19th Century. This name peaked in its popularity just prior to the 1900s through 1930 and has dropped off in popularity significantly.

In 2018, Wilfred was not in the top 100 baby boys names in England.

Famous People

Some of the famous people with the name Wilfred will follow:

• Wilfred Edward Salter Owen – He was a famous poet from the first world war. His poetry focused on the horrific things he saw in the trenches during the war.
• Wilfred Pickles – He was an English actor and radio presenter from the mid 1900s. His most significant work was as a host on the BBC radio show Have A Go. Have A Go was on the radio from 1946-1967 in which his wife Mabel appeared on as well.
• Wilfred Mott – He is a recurring fictional character on the British science fiction tv series Doctor Who. Wilf was played by Bernard Cribbins which last aired in 2010.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boys’ names.