All about the name

Jen

Male

« Jennifer is a popular female name of Welsh origin, meaning 'fair son of Gennynt'. »

#15107 over 10 years

Meaning, origin, history

Jennifer is a female given name of Welsh origin. It was created by combining the male name Jenkin with the ending -fer, which is often used in Welsh names to denote "son of". Thus, Jennifer originally meant "fair son of Gennynt" or "fair son of Gentle". The name Jenkin itself is derived from the Welsh personal name Genwyn, which is believed to have meant "white wave" or "white shadow". However, it's important to note that the name Jennifer has since been adopted and popularized worldwide, often used independently of its original meaning. Historically, Jennifer was first used as a feminine name in English-speaking countries during the late 19th century. It gained significant popularity following the success of the stage adaptation and subsequent film versions of George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion", which featured a character named Eliza Doolittle whose friends called her "Jennie". The name's use also rose sharply after it was given to the main female character in Lerner and Loewe's musical "My Fair Lady". Today, Jennifer remains a popular choice for parents naming their daughters. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it was among the top 1000 most popular names for girls born in the United States every year between 1947 and 2018. Variations of the name Jennifer include Jenna, Jenny, Gennifer, Jenipher, and Jenette. Some notable people with the name Jennifer include actresses Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lawrence, singer Jennifer Lopez, and tennis player Jennifer Capriati.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Jen since 1880

Total births
86
Total since 1880
Peak year
2010
17 births
in 2015
14
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-100% ↘
vs previous 5 years