Guenevere is a unique and enchanting name of Welsh origin. It means "fair shadow" or "white wave," reflecting its roots in the language's ancient poetic tradition. The name is composed of two elements: guen, meaning "fair" or "blond," and efer, which can be translated as "shadow" or "wave."
The earliest known occurrence of Guenevere can be traced back to the 12th century when it was used in the Welsh poem "Culhwch ac Olwen." However, it is best-known today due to its association with the legendary Queen Guinevere in the Arthurian romances. According to these tales, Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur and played a significant role in the Camelot court.
While the name has been popularized by these medieval stories, its origins are rooted deeply in ancient Welsh culture. Today, Guenevere remains an uncommon yet captivating choice for parents seeking a distinctive name with a rich history for their daughter. Its unique spelling sets it apart from more common names like Genevieve or Gwenivere, making it truly one-of-a-kind.
Statistics on the given name Guenevere show a varied pattern of usage over time in the United States.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the name saw some popularity with peaks occurring in 1971 (with 14 births) and 1972 (with 9 births). However, its usage declined thereafter until the mid-1980s when it began to pick up again. In the year 1985, there were 6 births with this name.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a resurgence of popularity for Guenevere, with a total of 34 births recorded between the years 1998 to 2004. The highest number of births during this period was in the year 2002 with 10 births.
In recent years, from 2011 onwards, the name has maintained a steady level of usage with around 6 births per year recorded each time except for 2019 where there were 8 births. Overall, based on available data, there have been a total of 170 Guenevere births in the United States since 1969.
These statistics demonstrate how the popularity of this name has waxed and waned over time. Despite not being one of the most frequently used names, it continues to be chosen for newborns year after year, indicating that there is a consistent, if small, group of parents who find Guenevere appealing as a name choice.