Jennifer is a female given name of English origin, derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar. The name Gwenhwyfar means "fair and smooth," and it was popularized by the character Guinevere in Sir Thomas Malory's 15th-century collection of Arthurian romances, "Le Morte d'Arthur." In this work, Guinevere is portrayed as King Arthur's second wife and queen consort. The name Jennifer gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly after World War II, and it reached peak popularity in the United States during the late 1960s to early 1970s. Today, Jennifer remains a popular choice for parents naming their daughters, ranking among the top 500 names in the United States according to recent data from the Social Security Administration.
Jennifer is a popular name for girls, especially in the United States. According to statistics from the Social Security Administration, Jennifer was one of the most commonly chosen names for baby girls born in the US during the year 1985.
In fact, there were five babies named Jennifer born that year alone! While this number may seem small compared to more recent years, it's important to consider the overall birth rate in the United States at the time. With approximately four million births occurring annually, five is a relatively high proportion of girls being given the name Jennifer.
Moreover, the popularity of the name Jennifer has remained consistent over the decades. It was one of the top ten names for girls throughout the 1970s and 1980s, peaking at number two in 1978 with 24,553 births that year alone!
While it may not be as popular today as it once was, Jennifer is still a beloved name choice among American parents. It's clear that this moniker has stood the test of time and continues to be a favorite among families across the country.