Jennifer

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

[edit] Etymology

From Welsh Gwenhwyfar, from gwen (“‘fair, white’”), and ghwyf (“‘smooth’”); the Welsh equivalent of the Irish Fionnbharr, derived from Gaelic fionn (“‘white, fair’”) and barr (“‘head’”).

[edit] Proper noun

Singular
Jennifer

Plural
-

Jennifer

  1. A female given name.

[edit] Usage notes

The name was mostly used in Cornwall before the 20th century. It became popular in all English-speaking countries, first in UK in the 1950s, and then in US as the top name for women born in 1970-1984.

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Quotations

  • 1906 George Bernard Shaw, The Doctor's Dilemma, Act I:
    RIDGEON. Thats a wonderful drawing. Why is it called Jennifer?
    MRS DUBEDAT. My name is Jennifer.
    RIDGEON. A strange name.
    MRS DUBEDAT. Not in Cornwall. I am Cornish. It's only what you call Guinevere.
  • 1960 Jerrard Tickell, The Hunt for Richard Thorpe, Doubleday, page 10:
    "Most people's sisters have decent names like Jennifer or Jane or something. What did you say hers was?"
  • 2000 Dana Stabenow, Nothing Gold Can Stay, Dutton, ISBN 0525945598, page 131:
    Jennifer. Jenny with the light brown hair. Jenny-fair, their high school French teacher had called her, and fair she had been.

[edit] French

[edit] Etymology

English from Cornish

[edit] Proper noun

Jennifer

  1. A female given name recently borrowed from English.

[edit] German

[edit] Etymology

English from Cornish

[edit] Proper noun

Jennifer

  1. A female given name recently borrowed from English.

[edit] Swedish

[edit] Etymology

English from Cornish

[edit] Proper noun

Jennifer

  1. A female given name recently borrowed from English.
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