Gladys
Gladys is a girl's name of Welsh origin.
Meaning
Ruler of a country, land, or territory.
Origin and history
Gladys is a traditionally feminine name derived from the Welsh Gwladus, historically associated with sovereignty or country. It was extremely popular in the United States in the early 20th century but has become far less common in recent decades.
Popularity in the United States
266,718 babies in the United States have been named Gladys since 1880. It ranks #151 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1742.
States where it is most popular
- NY (7.5 %)
- PA (6.2 %)
- TX (6.1 %)
- NC (4.9 %)
- GA (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,420 |
| 1890-1900 | 13,622 |
| 1900-1910 | 30,285 |
| 1910-1920 | 65,812 |
| 1920-1930 | 72,561 |
| 1930-1940 | 34,762 |
| 1940-1950 | 19,063 |
| 1950-1960 | 12,181 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,948 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,766 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,509 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,918 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,767 |
| 2010-2019 | 745 |
| 2020-2029 | 359 |
Famous people named Gladys
- Gladys Knight: Singer, Songwriter
Nicknames
Glady
Fun facts
- Gladys is the Anglicized form of the ancient Welsh name Gwladus, which is linked to royalty in Welsh legend.
- Gladys was a top-20 name for newborn girls in the United States around the turn of the 20th century.