Girl · Welsh
Gwenhwyfar
Say it: gwen-HOO-ee-var
Meaning
From gwen 'white, fair, holy' and a second element often linked to *sebarā 'phantom, magical being'; the analysis is debated.
Uncertainseveral explanations, none settled.
Its Cornish form Jenifer became the English Jennifer, which spread widely in the 20th century.
Its wave through time
No birth counts are recorded for this name in the records loaded here: it has been given to fewer than five babies a year, or not at all, since records began.
Through the ages
Used by
The family of the name
| English | Guinevere |
|---|---|
| Cornish | Jenifer |
| French | Guenièvre |
| Italian | Ginevra |
Famous bearers
- Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), queen of Arthur
Names worth a look
Where this comes from
- The medieval Arthurian romances
- Early Welsh tales, poetry and genealogies
Meanings and histories are compiled from the study of names and their languages and checked by a second review.
Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.