Jenifer Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jenifer is a name of Welsh origin, derived from the Old Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, meaning fair and smooth. It evolved through historical forms such as Guinevere before becoming popular as Jenifer in the modern era. The name is associated with notions of beauty and gentleness, and it has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 20th century and remains a classic choice today, linked to several notable individuals.
The name Jenifer is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West 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, Jenifer has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled 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 female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Jenifer' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 12331st out of 16616 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2790th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 778th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 357th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 521st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 970th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5461st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Jenifer' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jenifer"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒɛnɪfər/
Origin
Welsh
Etymology
The name Jenifer is a variant of the name Guinevere, which is derived from the Old Welsh name 'Gwenhwyfar'. The name combines the elements 'gwen', meaning 'fair' or 'white', and 'hwyfar', meaning 'smooth' or 'soft'.
Meaning
fair and smooth
Language Evolution
Gwenhwyfar (Old Welsh), Guinevere (Middle English), Jenifer (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Jenifer gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly in the mid-1900s, partly due to its association with the character Guinevere from Arthurian legend.
Variants & Derivatives
Jennifer, Ginevra, Gwen, Gwenyfar
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Jenifer is perceived as a classic and somewhat vintage name. It has seen fluctuating popularity over the decades, often associated with warmth and approachability.
Famous People
Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Garner
Explore More Jenifer Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jenifer"
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 "Jenifer"
"Jenifer" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 12331st of 16616 | 17 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2790th of 9204 | 188 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 778th of 12526 | 3,049 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 357th of 19264 | 10,929 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 521st of 27321 | 7,057 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 970th of 35406 | 4,031 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5461st of 30306 | 282 |
Regional Popularity of "Jenifer" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| 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 "Jenifer" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
95.54% 1477th/1546 |
- | - |
84.16% 1302nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
27.53% 613th/2227 |
31.40% 763rd/2430 |
34.28% 978th/2853 |
24.94% 692nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
11.07% 325th/2937 |
11.23% 391st/3483 |
10.92% 384th/3518 |
7.37% 298th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
14.03% 517th/3685 |
12.67% 567th/4475 |
9.88% 513th/5194 |
7.65% 483rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
31.97% 1465th/4582 |
19.75% 1020th/5164 |
12.66% 926th/7313 |
10.33% 771st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
94.54% 4242nd/4487 |
87.73% 5985th/6822 |
69.36% 4353rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jenifer"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jenifer" 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.