Jennifer means fair one or white wave — from the Cornish Guinevere, King Arthur's queen. Jennifer was the number-one name in America for 15 consecutive years (1970–1984) — the longest streak in naming history. Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Lopez — an entire generation of the world's most famous women share it. Three syllables that define an era.
Welsh Gwenhwyfar (fair one/white wave)→Cornish Jennifer
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Cornish / Welsh roots
Jennifer is the Cornish form of Guinevere meaning fair one or white wave. It held the number-one spot in America for 15 consecutive years (1970–1984) — the longest streak in naming history. Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jennifer Lopez are among the most famous women of their generations.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Cornish form of Guinevere; number one in US from 1970–1984.
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Today
Jennifer remains a beloved choice, ranking #406 in the US. 1,476,028 babies have been named Jennifer since 1919.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Jennifer?
1972peak year
Jennifer has been losing ground. Once far more common, it has been declining steadily in recent years. It currently ranks around #406, with about 833 babies named Jennifer each year. Its all-time peak came in 1972, when it climbed to #1 with 63,602 registrations — the heart of the 1970s. Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 1,476,028.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Jennifer's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — era-defining leadership. People named Jennifer tend to be beloved, versatile, and gifted at defining whatever generation they belong to.
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