Mildred

English

"gentle strength"

Mildred Origin and Meaning

The name Mildred is a girl's name of English origin meaning "gentle strength".

When scientists do research on the effects of an unpopular name, we're afraid that Mildred is one of the examples they cite, often in tandem with Bertha and Gertrude. But with cute nickname Millie on the rise, anything's possible.

Mildred is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that became popularized in England via an eighth century saint. In the US, she was a Top 10 choice from 1903 to 1926. A literary/cinematic Mildred is James M.Cain's noir protagonist Mildred Pierce, portrayed on screen by Joan Crawford in an iconic role. Mildred Bailey was a great jazz singer.

Mildred Rank in US Top 1000

# 972 in the US

Mildred Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 913 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Mildred

• 913 Nameberry 2025
• 835 Unique 2023

20 Names Similar to Mildred

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Mildred.

• Edna
• Gertrude
• Joan
• Gladys
• Doris
• Hilda
• Geraldine
• Francine
• Jemima
• Ethel
• Lois
• Dora
• Alberta
• Edwina
• Thelma
• Frida
• Bernadette
• Mathilda
• Susanna
• Judith

Famous People Named Mildred

• Mildred Natwick American actress
• Mildred Bailey American singer
• Mildred Harris American actress
• Mildred Dunnock American actress
• Mildred Davis American actress and wife of Harold Lloyd
• Mildred Benson American author
• Mildred "Millie" Jackson American singer
• Mildred "Millie" Kirkham American singer
• Mildred "Millie" Deegan American female baseball player
• Mildred Plumber author of Sunday Exploits
• Adele Mildred illustrator, designer and milliner
• Mildred Delores Loving plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia which invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage

The name Mildred in Pop Culture

• Mildred Lathbury one of novelist Barbara Pym's "Excellent Women"
• Mildred Harper character on Two and a Half Men
• Mildred Pierce novel by James M. Cain
• Mildred Huxtetter character from The Muppet Show
• Mildred Montag character in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• Mildred Rogers character in "Of Human Bondage"
• Mildred Keith cousin of Elsie Dinsmore
• Margaret Mildred "Kit" Kittredge American Girl doll
• Mildred "Millie" Helper neighbor on The Dick Van Dyke Show
• Mildred Hubble The Worst Witch
• Millerna Aston secondary character, a princess, in the anime Escaflowne
• Mildred Plumber author of "Sunday Exploits"
• Mildred Hayes character in film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri"