Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Old English.
Mildred is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Anglo-Saxon Mildthryth, meaning "gentle strength" — combining mild (gentle) and þryth (strength). Saint Mildred of Thanet, a 7th-century abbess, was one of the most venerated Anglo-Saxon saints.
Mildred was a top 5 U.S. name in the 1910s and 1920s. The classic noir film Mildred Pierce (1945), starring Joan Crawford, gave the name a fierce, complex cinematic identity. Vintage name enthusiasts are quietly rediscovering Mildred — with the irresistible nickname Millie making it feel completely fresh again.