Jennifer
Jennifer is a girl name of Cornish, from Welsh origin, meaning “Fair, white; smooth”.
| Meaning | Fair, white; smooth |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Cornish, from Welsh |
| Pronunciation | JEN-i-fer |
| Tradition | Modern & Classic |
| Used in | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia |
Meaning and origin of Jennifer
Jennifer is a Cornish form of Guinevere, the name of King Arthur's queen, from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar. Gwen means 'white', 'fair' or 'blessed', and the second part is often linked to a word meaning 'smooth' or to an older word for a spirit, which is where the gloss 'white phantom' comes from. Jennifer was rare outside Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw used it in The Doctor's Dilemma (1906), and it became one of the top American names in the 1970s.
Is Jennifer a religious name?
Jennifer has no religious background; it comes from Arthurian legend rather than scripture.
How popular is Jennifer?
Extremely common among women born in the 1970s and 80s; less used for babies today.
Gifts with the name Jennifer
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Spellings and variants of Jennifer
Names similar to Jennifer
More girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jennifer mean?
Jennifer means 'Fair, white; smooth'. It is of Cornish, from Welsh origin.
Does Jennifer have a religious meaning?
Jennifer has no religious background; it comes from Arthurian legend rather than scripture.
How do you pronounce Jennifer?
Jennifer is pronounced JEN-i-fer.
Is Jennifer a boy or girl name?
Jennifer is usually a girl name.