Gilfred
A masculine name derived from Old English words meaning "pledge" and "peace".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Gilfred. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gilfred today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gilfred births was 1920 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gilfred. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gilfred. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
7 babies that year
Average age
-
1920 SSA rank
#3,619
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Gilfred: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gilfred by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gilfred during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gilfred
The name Gilfred has its roots in the Germanic languages, specifically Old English. It is a compound name, with the first part "Gil" derived from the Old English word "gyl," meaning "ravine" or "deep valley." The second part, "fred," comes from the Old English word "frið," meaning "peace" or "tranquility."
The earliest known written record of the name Gilfred dates back to the 8th century AD, appearing in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, which documented significant events in early medieval England. The name was relatively common among the nobility and upper classes of Anglo-Saxon society during that time period.
One of the earliest notable individuals named Gilfred was a Mercian nobleman who lived in the late 8th century. He served as an advisor to King Offa of Mercia and played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and alliances with neighboring kingdoms.
In the 11th century, a Benedictine monk named Gilfred of Malmesbury became renowned for his scholarly works and historical writings. He authored several notable texts, including the Gesta Regum Anglorum (Deeds of the English Kings), which provided valuable insights into the lives of early English monarchs.
During the Norman conquest of England in the late 11th century, the name Gilfred fell out of widespread use, as many traditionally Anglo-Saxon names were replaced by Norman French names. However, it continued to be used sporadically throughout the Middle Ages.
One notable individual named Gilfred was a 13th-century English knight and landowner who accompanied King Edward I on his campaigns in Wales and Scotland. He was present at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 and was recognized for his bravery on the battlefield.
In the 16th century, a German scholar and humanist named Gilfred Lincker made significant contributions to the field of classical studies. He authored several works on ancient Greek and Roman literature and was highly regarded in academic circles across Europe.
While the name Gilfred is relatively uncommon today, it still holds historical significance and reflects the rich linguistic heritage of the Germanic languages. Its meaning, combining elements of nature and peace, has given it a unique charm and resonance throughout the centuries.
People
Gilfred + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gilfred as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gilfred: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gilfred?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gilfred going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Gilfred a common name?
We classify Gilfred as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gilfred most popular?
The single biggest year for Gilfred was 1920, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gilfred is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gilfred in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gilfred a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gilfred in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Gilfred still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gilfred in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gilfred can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Gilfred?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people share the name Gilfred at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.