Gwendolyn means fair ring or blessed ring — from the Welsh gwen (fair/blessed) and dolen (ring/bow). Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize (for Annie Allen, 1950). In Arthurian legend, Gwendolen is Merlin's wife. Three syllables of Welsh rings, Pulitzer poetry, and Arthurian enchantment.
Gwendolyn comes from the Welsh meaning fair ring or blessed ring. Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) was the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize, for Annie Allen (1950). In Arthurian legend, Gwendolen is associated with Merlin.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Welsh/Arthurian origin; Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000).
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Today
Gwendolyn remains a beloved choice, ranking #386 in the US. 123,866 babies have been named Gwendolyn since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Gwendolyn?
1953peak year
Gwendolyn appears in U.S. registration data going all the way back to 1880, when records begin. Its popularity climbed over the following decades. In 1953, 3,518 babies received the name (ranked #112). Today it sits around #386, with roughly 817 babies named Gwendolyn each year. Gwendolyn's usage has held roughly steady recently. In total, around 123,866 babies have been registered with this name since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Gwendolyn's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — blessed-ring humanitarianism. People named Gwendolyn tend to be poetic, enchanting, and gifted at being the first to break through.
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