Gladys Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gladys originated from the Welsh name Cladys, meaning 'land' or 'country'. It has evolved through historical forms into its current usage. The name is associated with qualities of stability and tradition, though it lacks biblical relevance. Gladys became popular in the early 20th century and continues to evoke a vintage charm in modern society.
The name Gladys is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gladys has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Gladys' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1206th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1739th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4051st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9331st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11418th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 21st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 80th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 242nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 549th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 706th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1300th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2655th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gladys' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gladys"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡlædɪs/
Origin
Welsh
Etymology
The name Gladys is believed to have originated from the Welsh name 'Cladys', which is derived from the word 'glad', meaning 'a land' or 'a country'.
Meaning
land, country
Language Evolution
Cladys, Gladys
Historical Usage
Gladys gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the early 20th century, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Gladdy, Gla, Glynis
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Gladys is often viewed as a classic and somewhat vintage name, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Famous People
Gladys Knight, Gladys Presley, Gladys Aylward
Explore More Gladys Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gladys"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Gladys"
"Gladys" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1206th of 7545 | 558 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1739th of 6773 | 312 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4051st of 7552 | 68 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 9331st of 10718 | 10 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11418th of 16616 | 22 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 21st of 9107 | 154,807 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 80th of 9204 | 58,260 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 242nd of 12526 | 22,573 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 549th of 19264 | 5,291 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 706th of 27321 | 4,482 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1300th of 35406 | 2,688 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2655th of 30306 | 790 |
Regional Popularity of "Gladys" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gladys" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
1.98% 28th/1416 |
3.05% 42nd/1379 |
0.59% 14th/2366 |
3.24% 37th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
6.47% 100th/1546 |
6.23% 97th/1556 |
1.91% 45th/2353 |
8.53% 132nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
14.86% 331st/2227 |
9.42% 229th/2430 |
6.38% 182nd/2853 |
15.71% 436th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
23.97% 704th/2937 |
12.23% 426th/3483 |
14.70% 517th/3518 |
15.95% 645th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
31.32% 1154th/3685 |
15.91% 712th/4475 |
16.52% 858th/5194 |
7.61% 481st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
46.92% 2150th/4582 |
32.18% 1662nd/5164 |
18.32% 1340th/7313 |
12.03% 898th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
92.70% 3693rd/3984 |
60.51% 2715th/4487 |
40.66% 2774th/6822 |
33.06% 2075th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gladys"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gladys" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.