Winfried

Winfried is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It derives from the elements win, meaning “friend,” and frid, meaning “peace,” conveying the sense “friend of peace.” Variants include Winfrid and Wynfrith; the name is often Latinized Wynfrid and, in Christian tradition, associated with Saint Boniface, whose birth name was Winfrid (Winfried).

Saint Winfrid, also known as Boniface, was a church reformer and missionary in the 8th century. Born about 675–680 in Crediton, he traveled to the Frankish Empire to evangelize the Germanic peoples and organized ecclesiastical structures, founding bishoprics such as Mainz and Würzburg and promoting the use of local languages in liturgy. He was killed in 754 in Frisia while continuing his mission. He is venerated as a saint in Catholic and Anglican traditions; his feast day is 5 June; he is commonly called the Apostle of the Germans.

In German-speaking regions, Winfried has been a traditional given name but is less common among newborns today. It remains encountered in older generations and, in modern times, appears in various professional fields.

Notable people named Winfried include Winfried Kretschmann, a German politician and Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg; Winfried Glatzeder, a German actor; and Winfried Schäfer, a German football coach. The name is also encountered in historical and religious contexts through its association with Saint Boniface, underscoring its long-standing presence in Germanic culture.