Fun Facts About the Name Winfrey
- 144 babies named Winfrey: U.S. records list 144 babies given the name Winfrey from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Winfrey Mean?
Winfrey is an English surname, also used as a given name. It comes from the Old English personal name Winefriþ, formed from wine 'friend' and friþ 'peace' or 'security.' Its literal sense is therefore 'friend of peace' or 'peace-friend.'
The surname may also be habitational, from Winfrith Newburgh in Dorset, a place named with the same Old English personal name. In that case the surname would mean 'person from Winfrith,' while the place name itself preserves the older personal name. The spelling Winfrey represents a Middle English development of Winfrith.
Winfrey Name History & Origins
The Old English personal name Winefriþ was in use before the Norman Conquest. It did not remain common as a first name in later medieval England, but it survived in the hereditary surname Winfrey. Middle English forms of the personal name include Winfrith and Winfrey, and the surname developed from these forms.
As a surname, Winfrey is historically associated with Northamptonshire, England. A related habitational origin from Winfrith Newburgh in Dorset has also been suggested, since that place name contains the same personal name. The two explanations are not mutually exclusive, because both the place name and the surname point back to Winefriþ.
Winfrey is used occasionally as a given name in modern English. This use is a transferred use of the surname rather than a direct continuation of the Old English personal name. The American television host Oprah Winfrey is a well-known bearer of the surname.
How Popular is the Name Winfrey?
Winfrey has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1932. Its best rank was #2,090 in 1913.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | #3,938 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #3,091 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #2,740 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #3,534 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #4,036 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #3,500 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #4,141 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #2,463 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1930 | #3,994 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #3,073 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #3,444 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #3,702 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #4,341 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #3,819 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #3,865 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #3,811 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #3,722 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #2,617 | 10 | 0.0012% |
| 1914 | #3,257 | 6 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #2,090 | 9 | 0.0018% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with W
How the Name Winfrey Shapes Your Personality and Life?
To express itself, you must follow the divine law of love. You have great persistence and hate to give up. You are a good mixer, charming, magnetic and intuitive. The spirituality is the key to success. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Winfrey's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Winfrey's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.