Gladys is a unique and elegant feminine given name of Welsh origin. It is derived from the old Welsh word 'Glaedy', which means 'gentle'. The name Gladys has been popular in various English-speaking countries, particularly in Wales, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
The earliest record of the name Gladys dates back to the 17th century in Wales. It was initially used as a diminutive form of the Welsh name Gwladus, which is composed of two elements: 'gwlad', meaning 'country' or 'land', and '-us', a suffix that denotes belongingness or association. Therefore, Gladys could be interpreted as "one who belongs to her country" or "associated with the land".
Gladys gained significant popularity during the Victorian era in England. It was frequently used by families of Welsh descent and by those seeking unique names for their daughters. The name continued to be popular throughout the early 20th century, especially among Welsh communities abroad.
Some notable individuals named Gladys include:
* Gladys Aylward (1902-1970), a British missionary who served in China during World War II and was known as "The Small Woman" by the Chinese people.
* Gladys Pyle (1883-1945), an American actress who appeared in numerous silent films between 1911 and 1926.
* Gladys Cooper (1888-1971), a British stage, film, and television actress whose career spanned over six decades.
In literature, the name Gladys appears in several works. Most notably, it is the given name of the protagonist's mother in L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Avonlea" (1908), the second book in the popular Anne of Green Gables series. Additionally, Gladys Mitchell wrote a series of detective novels featuring Mrs. Beatrice Adela "Glad" Ruddock as the protagonist.
In summary, Gladys is a rare and distinctive feminine given name of Welsh origin that means 'gentle'. Its popularity has waxed and waned over the centuries but continues to be recognized as a unique choice for parents seeking a beautiful and meaningful name for their daughters.
The name Gladys experienced significant popularity and a subsequent decline over the given period. The peak occurred around the late 1890s to early 1900s with approximately 2,700 to 3,500 births per year. However, by the mid-1940s, the popularity had significantly dropped, reaching as low as about 1,700 births in 1945. The trend continued, and from the late 1960s onwards, Gladys was given to fewer than 300 babies per year. In recent years (2018-2023), there were around 45 to 77 births named Gladys annually. Overall, there were a total of 266,620 births with the name Gladys between 1880 and 2023.