Find out how popular the first name Godfred has been for the last 1 years (from 2015 to 2015) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Godfred by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Godfred is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2015, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Godfred.

The history of the first name Godfred

The name Godfred has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon and Old English languages, originating from the words "god" meaning good or god, and "frid" meaning peace or protection. It dates back to the 5th century AD, during the early medieval period in England and parts of northern Europe. The name was popular among the Anglo-Saxons and was often given to boys born into noble or royal families.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Godfred, a Danish prince who lived in the 9th century AD. He was the son of King Horik I of Denmark and played a significant role in the Viking invasions of Frisia and parts of modern-day Netherlands.

In the 11th century, Godfred of Vieux-Pont (1020-1115) was a prominent French knight and crusader who participated in the First Crusade. He is mentioned in historical accounts for his bravery and military exploits during the siege of Antioch in 1098.

Another notable figure was Godfred of Vendôme (1088-1149), a French philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on medieval scholasticism and logic. His works, particularly on the problem of universals, had a lasting impact on the development of philosophical thought in Europe.

In the 13th century, Godfred of Ghent (1215-1292) was a Flemish philosopher and theologian who taught at the University of Paris. He is known for his contributions to the debates on the nature of the soul and the relationship between faith and reason.

The name Godfred also appeared in the Old English epic poem Beowulf, where it was used as the name of a Danish king. This literary reference further attests to the ancient origins and usage of the name among the Germanic tribes of northern Europe.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Godfred was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Godfred, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!