Jennifer is a popular given name of English origin that has gained prominence worldwide over the years. It is derived from the Welsh name Guinevere, which is composed of the elements "gueni" meaning fair or white and "gwen" meaning joy or bliss. Therefore, Jennifer can be interpreted to mean "fair and joyful," suggesting a pleasant and charming individual.
The name Guinevere was originally associated with Queen Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur in the legendary tales of Camelot. However, it was not commonly used as a given name until the late 1930s when American actress Jennifer Jones rose to fame. Her successful film career popularized the name Jennifer, and it became increasingly popular among parents during the 1940s and 1950s.
Throughout the decades, Jennifer has maintained its status as one of the most popular names for girls in various English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Jennifer was consistently among the top ten most popular names for girls between 1970 and 2007.
The popularity of Jennifer has also extended beyond the English-speaking world, with notable bearers of this name found in countries like Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and even Japan. Some famous individuals named Jennifer include American actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Aniston, Canadian singer-songwriter Jennifer Hawkins, and British model and TV personality Jennifer Ellison.
In summary, the name Jennifer is of Welsh origin and carries a positive meaning of "fair and joyful." Its popularity can be attributed to the successful career of actress Jennifer Jones during the mid-20th century. Today, it remains one of the most widely recognized and beloved names for girls around the world.
The statistics provided detail the annual number of births with the name Jennifer in the United States from 1919 to 2023. The data shows a significant increase in the popularity of the name Jennifer over time.
In the early years, the number of babies named Jennifer was relatively low, with only 6 births recorded in 1919 and 7 births in 1920. However, by the late 1940s and early 1950s, the popularity of the name began to grow rapidly. In 1946, there were 1733 births with the name Jennifer, which more than doubled to 3375 births in 1952.
The peak of popularity for the name Jennifer occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1968, there were 26852 births with the name Jennifer, followed by a record-breaking 33704 births in 1969. The popularity of the name continued to grow throughout the 1970s, reaching a high of 63605 births in 1972.
However, like many trends, the popularity of the name Jennifer began to decline after its peak in the early 1970s. By the mid-1980s, the number of babies named Jennifer had decreased significantly, with only 42658 births recorded in 1985.
The trend continued to decline throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s, with a notable decrease observed during this period. In 1994, there were 14000 births with the name Jennifer, which was a significant drop from previous years.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Jennifer has continued to decline, reaching an all-time low in 2022 and 2023 with only 583 and 630 births recorded respectively. This decline can be attributed to changing trends and preferences among parents when naming their children.
Overall, the statistics show that the name Jennifer was particularly popular in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s, but its popularity has since declined significantly over time. Despite this decline, Jennifer remains a commonly used name, with hundreds of babies still being named Jennifer each year.