Mildreth
A girl's name of Old English origin with 66 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Among U.S. girl's names, Mildreth currently holds position #16836. It is known but far from saturated — a name that registers without repeating.
With records stretching from 1897 to 2024, Mildreth has over 127 years of American history behind it — long enough to have been worn by great-grandparents and potentially rediscovered by today’s parents.
In the most recent SSA release, Mildreth ranks #16836 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Mildreth is a girl's baby name of Old English origin, a variant of Mildred meaning 'gentle strength' or 'mild power,' from the Old English milde (gentle) and þrūð (strength). Saint Mildred of Minster was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon abbess.
Mildred, despite its association with old-fashioned sensibility, carries a beautiful meaning — the combination of gentleness with strength. Mildreth's archaic -eth ending makes it feel even older, like a name transcribed from a medieval charter or illuminated gospel.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Mildreth is rooted in the Old English tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1897 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Mildreth’s rarity (66 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Mildreth has 12+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1897.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | #16836 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 33 | #17353 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 5 | #16053 | — |
| 1930s | 5 | #4774 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 11 | #4792 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 7 | #1347 | — |
The Story of Mildreth
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1897, Mildreth is a name steeped in history. Girls named Mildreth are most likely born between 1897 and 1907.
How rare is Mildreth?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Mildreth — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1897, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2000s with 33 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Mildreth by the numbers
- Would fill 1 school bus
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(12 years, 1897–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #16836 |
| 2009 | 5 | #19266 |
| 2008 | 7 | #14892 |
| 2007 | 6 | #16916 |
| 2005 | 5 | #18296 |
| 2003 | 5 | #17503 |
| 2002 | 5 | #17247 |
| 1999 | 5 | #16053 |
| 1931 | 5 | #4774 |
| 1919 | 5 | #5335 |
| 1916 | 6 | #4248 |
| 1897 | 7 | #1347 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1897–2024