Guinevere means white phantom or fair one — from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar. Queen Guinevere is the queen of Arthurian legend — wife of King Arthur, beloved by Sir Lancelot. The love triangle of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot is the most famous in all literature. Jennifer derives from the same root. Four syllables of the most famous queen, the most famous love triangle, and the white phantom who haunts every round table.
Guinevere comes from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar meaning white phantom or fair one. She is Queen of Camelot in Arthurian legend — wife of Arthur, beloved by Lancelot. The love triangle is literature's most famous. Jennifer derives from the same root.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Arthurian legend; Welsh origin.
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Today
Guinevere remains a beloved choice, ranking #1173 in the US. 4,294 babies have been named Guinevere since 1912.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Guinevere?
2022peak year
Guinevere first appears in the U.S. registration record in 1912. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 2022, 299 babies received the name (ranked #916). Today it sits well outside the top 1,000 (around #1173), with roughly 219 babies named Guinevere each year. Guinevere has been trending upward in recent years. In total, around 4,294 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Guinevere's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — Camelot nurturing. People named Guinevere tend to be regal, enchanting, and gifted at being the queen who haunts every round table.
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