Myldred
A feminine given name of Germanic origin, meaning "mild" or "gentle strength".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Myldred. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Myldred today is around 92 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Myldred births was 1917 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Myldred. 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
- • The typical person named Myldred is about 92 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Myldreds were born before 1944.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Myldred. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1917
16 babies that year
Average age
92
years old
1929 SSA rank
#5,078
Tracked since 1880
Origin
Meaning and history of Myldred
The given name Myldred is an Old English name that originated in the early medieval period, around the 7th to 10th centuries AD. It is derived from the Germanic elements "mild" meaning gentle or kind, and "ræd" meaning counsel or advice. The name was likely initially used to describe someone with a gentle and wise demeanor.
Myldred was a relatively common name among the Anglo-Saxon nobility and ruling classes in England during the Middle Ages. It appears in several historical records and chronicles from that era, though its exact origins and earliest recorded use are somewhat unclear.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Myldred was a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, Myldred of Mercia, who was the daughter of King Æthelred I of Mercia. She lived around 850 AD and played a role in the political affairs of the Kingdom of Mercia during that turbulent period.
Another notable figure with the name Myldred was Myldred of Northumbria, a 10th-century abbess and religious leader who presided over the influential Nunnaminster Abbey in Winchester, England. She was highly respected for her piety and leadership within the church during her lifetime, which spanned from around 930 to 990 AD.
In the 11th century, there was a Myldred of Wessex, who was a noblewoman and landowner in the county of Somerset. Historical records from the time of the Norman Conquest mention her as a prominent figure in the local community.
Moving into the 12th century, Myldred of Canterbury was a noted scholar and theologian who served as a canon at Canterbury Cathedral. She is believed to have lived from around 1110 to 1180 and contributed to the intellectual and religious life of the cathedral during her tenure.
Lastly, in the 13th century, there was a Myldred of Lincoln, who was a wealthy merchant and benefactor in the city of Lincoln. She is recorded as having made significant donations to the city's churches and charitable institutions, leaving a lasting legacy in the community during her lifetime, which spanned from approximately 1220 to 1290.
While the name Myldred fell out of widespread use after the medieval period, these historical figures provide a glimpse into the rich heritage and cultural significance of this Old English name throughout the centuries.
People
Myldred + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Myldred as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Myldred: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Myldred?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Myldred 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 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Myldred a common name?
We classify Myldred as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 143 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Myldred most popular?
The single biggest year for Myldred was 1917, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Myldred is about 92 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Myldred a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Myldred in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.