Jennifer

A contemporary classic stemming from a legendary title, there's a reason Jennifer is one of the names of the century. Jennifer is a girl's name of Cornish and Welsh origin meaning "the fair one," "the blessed one" or "white phantom." Rooted in the Old Cornish name Gwennever and the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, Jennifer is Celtic through and through and harkens back to Arthurian legend. You may have heard of Guinevere, Queen of Britain and wife of King Arthur, who was caught up in a love triangle with Sir Lancelot. Jennifer is an updated variation of Guinevere that caught the attention of US parents in the 20th century. It's been bringing folkloric royalty to the modern era ever since!

While Guinevere carries somewhat of a dramatic, star-crossed legacy, the revamped Jennifer brings a fresh slate without losing its time-honored charm. It comes with tons of friendly nicknames, too, like Jen, Jenny and Jenna. Jennifer was practically unheard of in North America until the 20th century, but wasted no time becoming a cultural icon. We have the popularity of George Bernard Shaw’s 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma and Eric Segal's iconic 1970 bestseller Love Story to thank for that, paired with Jennifer's soft, "cool girl" vibe that is oh-so appealing.

Fun Facts About the Name Jennifer

• The chart-topper of the 20th century: According to Social Security Administration (SSA) data, Jennifer is one of the most iconic names in American history, reigning in the Top 10 baby names for girls from 1966 to 1991. It even held the #1 spot for 14 consecutive years!
• From Arthurian to Hollywood royalty: There are famous Jennifers all over our screens and billboard charts, from legendary actresses like Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Connelly to pop music superstar Jennifer Lopez.
• From humble beginnings: Before George Bernard Shaw named one of his characters Jennifer in his 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma, Jennifer was a very unique name choice outside of Cornwall, England.
• A muse for musicians: Not just a name for the Hollywood elite, Jennifer features in lots of song titles, too. There's "Jennifer Juniper" by Donovan, "Jennifer" by Eurythmics, "Jennifer Eccles" by The Hollies and "Jennifer Ever" by The Smashing Pumpkins, just to name a few.