Wilfried is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It is composed of two elements: "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "frid" which means "peace." Therefore, the name Wilfried translates to "having or bringing peace through strength of will."
The name has its roots in medieval Germany, where it was used by several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Saint Willibrord (also known as Willibrod or Wilbrord), a Frankish missionary and bishop who worked in Frisia during the 7th century. He is credited with converting many people to Christianity, including the king of Frisia himself.
Another notable bearer of the name was Wilfried the Hairy (Wilfried Barbe), a French nobleman from the 11th century who served as the viscount of Bourges and was known for his bravery in battle. The name also appears among the ranks of the Holy Roman Empire, with several German nobles bearing the name Wilfried throughout the Middle Ages.
Over time, the name Wilfried has spread beyond its Germanic origins and can now be found in various countries around the world. Today, it is still used as a given name for boys, though it may be more commonly encountered in German-speaking regions or among families with German ancestry.
In terms of popularity, Wilfried is not one of the most common names worldwide, but it does have a steady presence throughout history and across different cultures. Its unique combination of strength and peace makes it an appealing choice for parents looking for a distinctive name for their son.
Wilfried is a unique name with an interesting history of usage in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration's data on popular baby names, Wilfried has seen a somewhat fluctuating pattern over the decades.
In the year 1927, there were five babies named Wilfried born in the United States. This number remained consistent for quite some time, as we see another five births in the year 1960. However, it seems that the name gained a brief surge in popularity in the late sixties, with another five births in both 1961 and 1967.
In total, over these four years, there were twenty babies named Wilfried born in the United States. While this number is not exceptionally large compared to more popular names, it does indicate a consistent presence of the name Wilfried among American baby names.
It's also noteworthy that the peak usage of the name Wilfried occurred during the 1960s, which could potentially reflect trends or influences from that era. However, as with many names, the popularity and usage of Wilfried may have been influenced by a variety of factors over time.