Gaynell is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It was created by author Edna Ferber in her novel "Cimarron," published in 1929. In the story, Gaynell is the name of the protagonist's granddaughter. The name is not derived from any specific language or mythology, but rather it is an original creation by Ferber.
The meaning and history behind the name Gaynell are relatively unknown as it was not inspired by any existing names or traditions. However, some people have interpreted the name to mean "joyful" or "rejoicing," possibly inspired by its similarity to words like gay (meaning happy or carefree) and yell (meaning shout or cry out). Nevertheless, there is no definitive explanation for the meaning of Gaynell.
Despite its obscure origins and uncertain meaning, Gaynell has been used as a given name in the United States since the mid-20th century. While it remains quite rare compared to more popular names, Gaynell continues to be chosen by parents who appreciate its uniqueness and distinctive sound. Overall, Gaynell is an uncommon yet intriguing choice for a first name, with an interesting literary history and an open-ended meaning that allows for personal interpretation.
Statistics on the given name Gaynell show that it was quite popular during the late 1930s in the United States. According to records, there were 11 babies born with this name in the year 1937. The popularity of Gaynell continued into the following year, with a total of 7 births recorded in 1938.
When combining both years together, we can see that there were a total of 18 babies named Gaynell during this two-year period in the United States. This demonstrates that while Gaynell may not have been one of the most popular names of its time, it was still quite common and held a significant presence among newborns during these years.