Jennifer is a feminine given name of Welsh origin. It means "fair lord" or "white wave." The name has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 20th century. In literature, Jennifer was the name of a character in the novel "Jenny Haniver" by H. Rider Haggard, published in 1887. However, it wasn't until the stage adaptation of the novel that the name gained significant popularity. Today, Jennifer remains a popular choice for parents looking to give their daughters a classic yet unique name with a rich history.
The name Jennifer has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past seven decades, with a significant peak during the 1970s and 1980s.
From its first recorded use in 1946, when six girls were named Jennifer at birth, this name gained traction slowly but surely. It was not until 1957 that more than ten girls were given this name annually, with twelve births reported that year.
The turning point came in the early 1960s: after thirty-one babies were named Jennifer in 1961, the number continued to rise significantly over the following years. The peak was reached during the late 1970s and early 1980s, when more than two hundred girls were given this name each year between 1973 and 1984.
Since then, Jennifer's popularity has gradually declined, with fewer than fifty births reported annually since 2005. Despite this decrease, it remains a classic choice that has been given to thousands of American babies over the years.
In total, there have been 4,836 recorded births of girls named Jennifer in the United States from 1946 to 2016, making it one of the most popular and enduring names for girls during this period.