Jump to content

Jennifer (given name): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Lightbot (talk | contribs)
791,863 edits
Units/dates/other
Blueman3 (talk | contribs)
10 edits
No edit summary
Line 17: Line 17:
}}
}}


'''Jennifer''' became a common first name for females in English-speaking countries during the 20th century. The name Jennifer is a [[Cornish language|Cornish]] variant of [[Guinevere]],<ref name=p332>Room, Adrian. ''Cassell's Dictionary of First Names''. [[Sterling Publishing]] (2002), [http://books.google.com/books?id=b8B54iuf0sYC&pg=PA332&sig=-iUPJis-nMTqw4orO6ESsTksjXg p332]. ISBN 0304362263.</ref> which is a French form of the [[Old Welsh]] ''Gwenhwyfar'' (''gwen'': white, fair + ''hywfar'': smooth, soft).<ref name=p276>Room, Adrian. ''Cassell's Dictionary of First Names''. [[Sterling Publishing]] (2002), [http://books.google.com/books?id=b8B54iuf0sYC&pg=PA276&sig=R01NMOBfYhLtEXRKRte5UOFcr-M p276]. ISBN 0304362263.</ref> Other theories say the name derived from the Old English words ''jenefer,'' ''genefer'' and ''jinifer,''{{Fact|date=April 2008}} which were all variants of [[Juniper (given name)|Juniper]] and used to describe the juniper tree.<ref>Richard Oliver Heslop, ''[http://www.openlibrary.org/details/northumberlandv229hesluoft Northumberland Words]'', 1892-94: see Ginifer & Jinifer.</ref>
'''Jennifer''' became a common first name for females in English-speaking countries during the 20th century. The name Jennifer is a [[Cornish language|Cornish]] variant of [[Guinevere]],<ref name=p332>Room, Adrian. ''Cassell's Dictionary of First Names''. [[Sterling Publishing]] (2002), [http://books.google.com/books?id=b8B54iuf0sYC&pg=PA332&sig=-iUPJis-nMTqw4orO6ESsTksjXg p332]. ISBN 0304362263.</ref> which is a French form of the [[Old Welsh]] ''Gwenhwyfar'' (''gwen'': white, fat + ''hywfar'': blobby, soft).<ref name=p276>Room, Adrian. ''Cassell's Dictionary of First Names''. [[Sterling Publishing]] (2002), [http://books.google.com/books?id=b8B54iuf0sYC&pg=PA276&sig=R01NMOBfYhLtEXRKRte5UOFcr-M p276]. ISBN 0304362263.</ref> Other theories say the name derived from the Old English words ''jenefer,'' ''genefer'' and ''jinifer,''{{Fact|date=April 2008}} which were all variants of [[Juniper (given name)|Juniper]] and used to describe the juniper tree.<ref>Richard Oliver Heslop, ''[http://www.openlibrary.org/details/northumberlandv229hesluoft Northumberland Words]'', 1892-94: see Ginifer & Jinifer.</ref>
The name has been in use since the 18th century.<ref name=p332/> Before 1906 the name was fairly uncommon, but it became popular after [[George Bernard Shaw]] used it for the main female character in ''[[The Doctor's Dilemma]]''.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} It gained even more popularity in the 1970s. Though its popularity is often attributed to the [[Love Story (novel)|novel]] and film ''[[Love Story (1970 film)|Love Story]],''{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Jennifer was already the number 3 name given to baby girls in the [[United States]] in 1969, the year before the book and movie were released. Jennifer was the single most popular name for American girls from 1970 to 1984.<ref>[http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/ Popular baby names<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Since the early 1990s it has remained common, but considerably less so. It is also popular to [[Hispanic]] females. Diminutives include [[Jen]] (Jenn), [[Jenny (given name)|Jenny]] (Jennie, Jenni), and [[Jenna]].
The name has been in use since the 18th century.<ref name=p332/> Before 1906 the name was fairly uncommon, but it became popular after [[George Bernard Shaw]] used it for the main female character in ''[[The Doctor's Dilemma]]''.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} It gained even more popularity in the 1970s. Though its popularity is often attributed to the [[Love Story (novel)|novel]] and film ''[[Love Story (1970 film)|Love Story]],''{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Jennifer was already the number 3 name given to baby girls in the [[United States]] in 1969, the year before the book and movie were released. Jennifer was the single most popular name for American girls from 1970 to 1984.<ref>[http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/ Popular baby names<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Since the early 1990s it has remained common, but considerably less so. It is also popular to [[Hispanic]] females. Diminutives include [[Jen]] (Jenn), [[Jenny (given name)|Jenny]] (Jennie, Jenni), and [[Jenna]].

Revision as of 20:10, 15 June 2008

For other uses, see Jennifer.
Jennifer
Queen Guinevere, by William Morris. Jennifer is the Cornish translation of Guinevere and Guinevere was best known for being the legendary queen consort of King Arthur.
GenderFemale
Origin
Word/nameCornish
Meaningwhite (fair, pure)
Other names
Related namesJenny, Jen, Jenna, Guinevere, Gwen

Jennifer became a common first name for females in English-speaking countries during the 20th century. The name Jennifer is a Cornish variant of Guinevere,[1] which is a French form of the Old Welsh Gwenhwyfar (gwen: white, fat + hywfar: blobby, soft).[2] Other theories say the name derived from the Old English words jenefer, genefer and jinifer,[citation needed] which were all variants of Juniper and used to describe the juniper tree.[3]

The name has been in use since the 18th century.[1] Before 1906 the name was fairly uncommon, but it became popular after George Bernard Shaw used it for the main female character in The Doctor's Dilemma.[citation needed] It gained even more popularity in the 1970s. Though its popularity is often attributed to the novel and film Love Story,[citation needed] Jennifer was already the number 3 name given to baby girls in the United States in 1969, the year before the book and movie were released. Jennifer was the single most popular name for American girls from 1970 to 1984.[4] Since the early 1990s it has remained common, but considerably less so. It is also popular to Hispanic females. Diminutives include Jen (Jenn), Jenny (Jennie, Jenni), and Jenna.


Name variants

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Room, Adrian. Cassell's Dictionary of First Names. Sterling Publishing (2002), p332. ISBN 0304362263.
  2. ^ Room, Adrian. Cassell's Dictionary of First Names. Sterling Publishing (2002), p276. ISBN 0304362263.
  3. ^ Richard Oliver Heslop, Northumberland Words, 1892-94: see Ginifer & Jinifer.
  4. ^ Popular baby names
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jennifer_(given_name)&oldid=219553692"