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Original poster

How popular is Wilfred?

33 replies

Elbi · 03/05/2017 17:52

I've been focusing on girls' names as I find them easier but if DC1 turns out to be a boy we're a bit stumped! Wilfred is tentatively on the list but worried it's having a spike in popularity... How many do you know?

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Badgoushk · 09/05/2017 22:28

Beautiful name. We have an 8 year old (canine) Wilfred. Fabulous for a human too.

TheLegendOfBeans · 09/05/2017 22:25

Hello again clevername 😂

I'd say just go for it! I have absolute confidence that there are much fewer Wilfs per square mile there than Ava's here in SE London Grin

clevername · 09/05/2017 20:38

Ha ha... I think we've chatted about this before on another thread, Beans.

I live in East Kent so I am, unfortunately, dangerously close to the areas you mention. Although we're not overrun with hipsters where I am.

Think I've decided I'm going to have to ignore the proximity of a 'Wilf is popular' area, though, because I love the name too much! (Although this is all likely irrelevant as its probably a girl, anyway... ha!)

TheLegendOfBeans · 09/05/2017 19:00

It's pretty cool, I like it.

However it's a big "hipster name of choice" plus there's a high concentration of Wilfs in and around the Herne Bay/Margate/Whistable areas: the natural stomping ground of hipsters who couldn't buy in London if their life depended on it.

If you're not in that part of Kent and you want a degree of uniqueness then go for it.

But he will have to wear a handlebar moustache AT ALL TIMES Grin

Sukitakeitoff · 09/05/2017 18:56

I love it, but DH vetoed it. The graph you linked to showed it rising to 0.04% which is only 1 in every 2500 births.

I have two dcs with fairly unusual names and another with a top 5 name, and honestly it doesn't really matter. And anyway Wilfred is not going to get that popular!

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 09/05/2017 18:52

2 at my boys pre school. Wilf is a really sweet name though!

Hotpinkangel19 · 09/05/2017 18:51

Oooo I'm sorry, I think it's awful 🙈 obviously in the minority though x

Original poster
Elbi · 09/05/2017 18:45

That is a really nice angle.

OP posts:
clevername · 09/05/2017 18:42

I had no idea that's what it meant! So Wilfred Owen, one of our most famous war poets, who told the truth about how awful WW1 was (and tragically died just before the end) had a name meaning 'Desires Peace'?! Love it...

mininionsteve · 09/05/2017 14:57

The people who hate the name Wilfred tend to call my boy Wilf. It means desires peace which is a nice sentiment to be attached too.

KoalaDownUnder · 07/05/2017 04:35

I think it's a truly awful name. It sounds so wet and feeble.

Yeah, sorry - I do too!

I get that the whole Albie/Alfie/Freddie thing is back in, but Wilfred is a step too far IMO.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 07/05/2017 04:22

Our neighbour has a 2 year old Wilf, not sure if it's short for Wilfred or just Wilf. I know of another one - work colleague's son, also 2. I don't know of any older ones.

Scrumpernickel · 07/05/2017 03:32

I think it's a truly awful name. It sounds so wet and feeble.

Sorry Wilfreds!

Joeybee · 07/05/2017 02:07

It's not too popular, but getting more popular now. It's one of those old man names thats coming back to the fore again. it probably will get popular, but I don't think it's going to end up a top 10, or even top 20 name.
I know a little Wilfred, he gets called Wilf and I think it's a gorgeous name. Thing with Wilfred is it's a bit polarising. I think you'd have to prepare yourself for some criticism of the name.

Rockaby · 05/05/2017 12:58

I know two. One is 4/5yo, the other is 6mo. I love it!

buttercup54321 · 04/05/2017 22:59

I know one aged 11. Great name.

sonlypuppyfat · 04/05/2017 19:05

Wilf how on earth can Wilf be popular, perhaps it's my age. I really don't get the attraction of old man names

mum2be2boys · 04/05/2017 17:21

I like the name, as well as the nicknames Will and Wilf.

I know 3 aged between 8 weeks and 3 years.

Jooni · 04/05/2017 13:12

The name we've chosen for imminent DS has a similar shape to Wilfred on that graph. Like Wilfred, the numbers still aren't too high but the trajectory is definitely heading up!

I can't pretend it doesn't worry me at all but I've had well over 9 months to mull over whether potential future popularity is enough to put me off my long-time favourite name and decided that it isn't. I'll definitely be a bit disappointed if the name becomes the "new Alfie" in the future but I love the name for so many reasons besides its current unusualness that I know I won't regret using it. It already feels like DS.

If you love Wilfred, use it. There is such a wide range of names being used now, and so many more kids with unique or nearly unique names, that actually even "popular" names aren't that common and are unlikely to repeat more than a few times in a whole school. Plus, you can't predict which random names will suddenly be propelled into the spotlight by celeb culture/TV/film/fiction.

FWIW, I like Wilfred a lot and don't know any.

whifflesqueak · 04/05/2017 08:41

I have a 3year old Wilfred and know of two more, one also age 3 and one who is 7.

we seen to meet little Wilfred's quite often at the park and such but it doesn't bother us.

OrlandoTheCat · 04/05/2017 08:37

I know 2. One is 2yrs old and the other a few weeks old

Mrsknackered · 04/05/2017 08:31

My dad's youngest brother is Wilfred but he's Will and I know 2 little Wilf's. I don't think it's too popular, and I love it!

SumAndSubstance · 03/05/2017 21:02

I know a 1 year old Wilfred.

Original poster
Elbi · 03/05/2017 21:01

Just checked the darkgreener graph for Wilfred... Confused names.darkgreener.com/#wilfred

OP posts:
Sophronia · 03/05/2017 20:23

I only know one, aged 26!

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