Jennifer is a feminine given name of Welsh origin. It is derived from the name Guinevere, which is itself composed of the elements "guin" meaning "fair" or "white", and "hwyfar" meaning "smooth" or "peaceful". Therefore, Jennifer can be interpreted to mean "white wave" or "smooth fair one".
The name Jennifer gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century. It was first introduced by Shakespeare in his play "Arthur of the British", where it appears as "Gwenhwyfar". However, it wasn't until the publication of Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" that the name Guinevere became widely known and eventually evolved into Jennifer.
Today, Jennifer is a popular name worldwide, ranking among the top 100 names for girls in several countries. It has also inspired numerous variations and derivatives, such as Jenni, Jenny, Jenna, Jennefer, Ginevra, and Gwen. Despite these different forms, all of them share the same roots and meaning as the original Welsh name Guinevere.
In literature, Jennifer is most famously associated with the character Jennifer "Jenny" Calendar from C.S. Lewis' "Time Quintet" series. This has contributed to the name's enduring popularity and appeal among English-speaking families. Overall, Jennifer is a strong, elegant name that carries a rich history and beautiful meaning.
Based on the statistical data provided for the name Jennifer in the United States from 1950 to 2010, we can observe several trends and patterns:
* The popularity of the name Jennifer has fluctuated significantly over the years. It started with a low number of births (7 per year) in the early 1950s but began to increase steadily in the late 1960s.
* Between 1968 and 1973, there was a significant surge in the popularity of the name Jennifer, with the number of births reaching its peak at 61 in 1972. This period marked the height of the name's popularity.
* However, after 1973, the popularity of the name began to decline gradually. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the number of births with the name Jennifer had dropped significantly, reaching a low of 14 births in 1994.
* Throughout the 2000s, the popularity of the name Jennifer continued to decline. By 2005, it had reached its lowest point since the 1950s, with only 7 births recorded that year. This trend has persisted, with fewer than 15 births per year recorded since 2003.
* Overall, between 1950 and 2010, there were a total of 1498 births registered with the name Jennifer in the United States.
This data shows that while the name Jennifer was quite popular at certain periods, its popularity has since declined significantly. However, it is essential to note that even with the decrease in popularity, Jennifer remains a name with historical significance and continues to be chosen for newborns, albeit in smaller numbers.