Jennifer is a name of Welsh origin, derived from the name "Gwenhwyfar," which means "fair and smooth." It was popularized by Sir Thomas Malory's medieval Arthurian legend, Le Morte d'Arthur, in which Queen Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, is named Gwenhwyvar. The name Jennifer became widely used during the late 20th century, particularly after it peaked at number one on the Social Security Administration's list of most popular names for girls in the United States between 1970 and 1984.
The name Jenney is a variant spelling of Jennifer, often used to give it a more unique or distinctive sound. Despite its popularity, Jenney remains relatively uncommon compared to Jennifer, offering parents an opportunity to give their daughter a recognizable yet different name.
While the name Jenney does not have a specific history attached to it beyond being a variant of Jennifer, it is still associated with the same Welsh origins and meaning as its more common counterpart. Therefore, individuals named Jenney can take pride in sharing roots with the legendary Queen Guinevere and bearing a name that signifies beauty and smoothness.
In summary, Jenney is a unique yet recognizable variant spelling of the popular Welsh name Jennifer, which means "fair and smooth." With its origins rooted in Arthurian legend, this charming name offers parents an opportunity to give their daughter a distinctive name with a rich history.
The name Jenney has been used consistently but not extremely frequently in the United States over the past century. The first recorded birth was in 1909 with five occurrences, and there were several years where the name did not appear at all.
There are fluctuations in popularity, with some peak years such as 1972 when 20 babies were named Jenney, and 1979 with 25 births. However, these figures represent relatively low numbers compared to more popular names of that era.
From the 1980s onwards, there was a decline in usage, with an average of around 10-15 births per year until 2003. Since then, the name Jenney has been used infrequently, with only five births recorded in 2006 and seven in 2007.
In total, over the past century, there have been 509 babies named Jenney in the United States. While it's not a highly common name, it's still one that has been chosen by parents for their children across several generations.