Jennifer
Jennifer is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Fair one, white wave, or blessed spirit.
Origin and history
Jennifer is a Cornish form of the Welsh name Guinevere (Gwenhwyfar). It became extremely popular in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century, holding the number one spot for girls throughout the 1970s. Although its popularity has declined in recent years, it remains a classic modern standard.
Popularity in the United States
1,471,703 babies in the United States have been named Jennifer since 1880. It ranks #4 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #504.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.9 %)
- NY (7.6 %)
- TX (6.8 %)
- IL (5.2 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 6 |
| 1920-1930 | 86 |
| 1930-1940 | 368 |
| 1940-1950 | 10,685 |
| 1950-1960 | 43,075 |
| 1960-1970 | 164,413 |
| 1970-1980 | 581,729 |
| 1980-1990 | 440,914 |
| 1990-2000 | 148,041 |
| 2000-2010 | 63,509 |
| 2010-2019 | 15,253 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,624 |
Famous people named Jennifer
- Jennifer Aniston: Actress, Producer
- Jennifer Lawrence: Actress
- Jennifer Lopez: Singer, Actress
Nicknames
Jen, Jenny, Jenni
Fun facts
- Jennifer was the most popular female name in the United States every year from 1970 to 1984.
- The name stems from the Cornish variant of Guinevere, the legendary queen of King Arthur.