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Jennifer (given name)

{{Other uses|Jennifer (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox given name

|name = Jennifer

|alternative spelling = Jenifer, Yenifer (Spanish), Yennefer (Spanish)

|image = William Morris 001.jpg

|image_size = 200px

|caption = William Morris, Queen Guinevere, 1858: King Arthur's wife is known to English-speakers by a Norman French cognate of "Jennifer"

|pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɛ|n|ᵻ|f|ɚ}}

|gender = Feminine

|meaning = "Fair One", "White Wave"

|region = Cornwall

|languageorigin = Cornish

|nickname = Yennu, Jen, Jenn, Jenna, Jenni, Jennie, Jenny

|related names = Findabair, Guinevere, Gwenhwyfar, Gwenore, Ginevra

|popularity =wight doveяьм

|footnotes =

}}File:Jennifer Jones - Photoplay Oscar spread.png in 1944.]] File:Veronica Lake I Married a Witch crop.jpg portrayed the witch Jennifer in the 1942 film I Married a Witch.]] File:Sharon Tate Valley of the Dolls 1967 - Restoration.jpg portrayed Jennifer North in the 1967 film Valley of the Dolls.]]

Jennifer, also spelled Jenifer or Jenefer, is a feminine given name, the Cornish form of Guinevere,Room, Adrian. Cassell's Dictionary of First Names. Sterling Publishing (2002), [https://books.google.com/books?id=b8B54iuf0sYC&pg=PA332 p. 332]. {{ISBN|0-304-36226-3}}. that became popular in the English-speaking world in the 20th century.

Etymology

"Jennifer" may mean "the fair one" (from Proto-Celtic "Windo-*sēbro" (cognate with Old Irish síabar "a spectre, phantom, supernatural being [usually in pejorative sense]"). A Cornish form, it is cognate with the Welsh form Gwenhwyfar and with the Old Irish Findabair.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nd9R6GQBB_0C&pg=PA188 |title=The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore |last=Monaghan |first=Patricia |publisher=Infobase |year=2009 |isbn=9781438110370 |page=188}} Despite the name's similarity to the Old English words "jenefer," "genefer," and "jinifer," these appear to be derived from the juniper plant used to flavor the beverage.Richard Oliver Heslop, [http://www.openlibrary.org/details/northumberlandv229hesluoft Northumberland Words] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124181432/http://www.openlibrary.org/details/northumberlandv229hesluoft |date=2007-11-24 }}), 1892–1894: see Ginifer and Jinifer.

Cultural influences

Jennifer has been in use as a feminine given name in English-speaking countries since the 18th century. The name increased in use in Cornwall in southwest England in the 18th century when other Cornish names declined in use. The already popular nickname Jenny, which it shared with the well-used name Jane, probably increased usage of the name in Cornwall. Jennifer was primarily used in Cornwall and Devon in the early 19th century and was usually spelled Jenifer. In the United States, Jenifer as a feminine name was used mainly by Cornish immigrants in Wisconsin. It was also used for men in the United States, many of whom were probably named after Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, a Maryland politician. Before 1906, the name was fairly uncommon elsewhere in English-speaking countries, but it gained some recognition after George Bernard Shaw used it for the main female character in The Doctor's Dilemma. Jennifer became the most common spelling of the name from the 20th century.{{cite news |url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20111101/LIVING/711019971 |title=Jennifer went from 'strange' to popular |last=Evans |first=Cleveland Kent |date=November 1, 2011 |newspaper=Omaha World Herald |access-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907011741/http://www.omaha.com/article/20111101/LIVING/711019971 |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |location=Omaha, Nebraska}} Various other popular culture references likely inspired increased usage of the name throughout the English-speaking world. The popularity of the American actress Jennifer Jones increased awareness of the name in the 1940s.{{cite book |last1=Hanks|first1= Patrick| last2=Hardcastle|first2=Kate |last3=Hodges| first3=Flavia| author-link= |date= 2006|title= Oxford Dictionary of First Names|url= |location= |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=141|isbn= 0-19-861060-2}} The name was also used for romantic heroines in different film productions. Jennifer, played by actress Veronica Lake, was the heroine of the 1942 American romantic comedy fantasy film I Married a Witch. Jennifer Jones played Jennifer “Jennie” Appleton, the mysterious heroine of the 1948 American supernatural film Portrait of Jennie. Jennifer is a 1953 American film noir drama mystery film. The name was later used for popular film characters such as Jennifer North, played by actress Sharon Tate in the American drama film Valley of the Dolls, which was released in December 1967 in the United States, and Jennifer Cavalleri, played by Ali MacGraw in the American romantic drama film Love Story, which was released in December 1970 in the U.S.{{Citation

| last = Evans

| first = Cleveland Kent

| author-link =

| title = Tsunami Curve and Popular Culture Influences on Given Names

| journal = Names: A Journal of Onomastics

| volume = 55

| issue = 4

| pages = 335–342

| date = December 2007

| orig-date = 12-1

| language = English

| url = https://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1804/1803

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| jfm = }} Another influence on the popularity of the names Jenny and Jennifer was the song Jenny Rebecca, written by Carol Hall as a present for her friends, William Goldman and Ilene Jones, after the birth of their daughter. The song recounts all of the happy experiences that await four day old Jenny Rebecca. The ballad was first recorded by Barbra Streisand in 1965 and later by other performers.{{cite web|url= https://www.popmatters.com/carol-hall-the-final-interview-2633063304.html |title= Carol Hall: The Final Interview|website=popmatters.com|date= 1 April 2019 }} Frederica von Stade recorded the song in 1977 and released it on her 1978 album Song Recital. Von Stade named her daughter, Jennifer Rebecca, after the song.{{cite web|url= https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Carol-Halls-JENNY-REBECCA-Receives-Ovation-At-Carnegie-Hall-20100426 |title= Carol Hall's JENNY REBECCA Receives Ovation At Carnegie Hall|website=broadwayworld.com|date= 26 April 2010 }} {{cite web|url=https://www.nancy.cc/2025/06/02/name-story-jennifer-rebecca/ |title=Baby name story: Jennifer Rebecca|website=nancy.cc|date= 2 June 2025}} Other possible influences on the popularity of the name included the bubblegum pop song “Jennifer Eccles”, released in March 1968 by the British band The Hollies, and the folk-pop hit song “Jennifer Juniper”, released in February 1968 in the UK and in March 1968 in the United States by singer-songwriter Donovan.{{cite web|url= https://www.nancy.cc/2023/07/25/baby-name-jennifer-juniper/ |title= What turned Juniper into a baby name in 1969? |website=www.nancy.cc|date= 25 July 2023 }} The name might also have come into greater use because it was different but sounded like names such as Jane, Janet, Janice, Joanne, and Jean that had been popular in earlier generations.{{Citation

| last = Evans

| first = Cleveland Kent

| author-link =

| title = Tsunami Curve and Popular Culture Influences on Given Names

| journal = Names: A Journal of Onomastics

| volume = 55

| issue = 4

| pages = 335–342

| date = December 2007

| orig-date = 12-1

| language = English

| url = https://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1804/1803

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| jfm = }} The fame of American actress Jennifer Lopez popularized the name for Hispanic American girls after 1998.{{cite news |url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20111101/LIVING/711019971 |title=Jennifer went from 'strange' to popular |last=Evans |first=Cleveland Kent |date=November 1, 2011 |newspaper=Omaha World Herald |access-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907011741/http://www.omaha.com/article/20111101/LIVING/711019971 |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |location=Omaha, Nebraska}}

Usage

In the United Kingdom, the name debuted among the 100 most popular names for newborn girls in 1934. By 1950, the name was among the top 10 most popular names in both the United Kingdom and Australia.{{cite news |url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20111101/LIVING/711019971 |title=Jennifer went from 'strange' to popular |last=Evans |first=Cleveland Kent |date=November 1, 2011 |newspaper=Omaha World Herald |access-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907011741/http://www.omaha.com/article/20111101/LIVING/711019971 |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |location=Omaha, Nebraska}}{{cite news |url=http://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2011/06/1984-to-2009.html |title=THE TOP 100 NAMES IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1984|date=14 December 2016 |publisher=British Baby Names}} Jennifer remained among the top 100 names for girls in England and Wales until 2005, when it began to decline in use.{{cite web|url=http://www.babynames.co.uk/popular-baby-names#name1=Jennifer |title=Home – Baby Names |website=babynames.co.uk|date=16 November 2016 }} In Ireland, the name was a top 100 name between 1964 and 2010 and was a top 10 name between 1976 and 1989.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/ireland?type=sample | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In New Zealand, the name debuted among the top 100 names for girls in 1932 and remained among the top 100 names until 2003. It was a top 10 name between 1946 and 1960.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/new-zealand?type=sample | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }}

In the United States, the name Jennifer first appeared in U.S. Social Security data in 1916, the year after a production of The Doctor's Dilemma made its American debut on Broadway It first appeared on the list of 1,000 most commonly used names for newborn baby girls in 1938, when it ranked at No. 987. The name increased significantly in use for American girls in 1944, the year Jennifer Jones won an Oscar for her role in the 1943 film The Song of Bernadette. The name was in 527th position on the popularity chart in 1942, increased to 397th position on the chart in 1943, to 262nd position in 1944 and to 200th position in 1945. Jennifer continued to increase in use for American girls and was among the top 100 names for American girls by 1956. It was the 10th most popular name for girls in the United States in 1967, rose to 4th on the popularity chart in 1968, to 3rd in 1969, and to 1st in 1970.{{cite web|url= https://www.nancy.cc/2023/07/25/baby-name-jennifer-juniper/ |title= What turned Juniper into a baby name in 1969? |website=www.nancy.cc|date= 25 July 2023 }} Jennifer then remained the single most popular name for newborn girls in the United States every year from 1970 to 1984, inclusive.{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/the-jennifer-epidemic-how-the-spiking-popularity-of-different-baby-names-cycle-like-genetic-drift|title=The Jennifer epidemic: How the spiking popularity of different baby names cycle like genetic drift|author=Gerson, Jen|date=January 23, 2015|access-date=May 12, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/|title=Popular Baby Names|last=SueKunkel|publisher=Social Security Administration}}{{Cite web|url=https://msbarry.github.io/babymap/|title=Most Popular Baby Names by State 1910–2015|website=msbarry.github.io}} The name dropped out of the top 10 in the United States in 1992 and out of the top 100 in 2009. It has since continued to decline in use, but has remained among the top 1,000 names in use for American girls and, as of 2023, was ranked 517th on the popularity chart.

In Canada, the name debuted among the top 100 names for newborn girls in 1949 and was a top 10 name between 1968 and 1992. It has since declined in use.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/canada?type=sample | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-top-baby-names-2024-1.7184123

It has also been well used in other European and North American countries.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/united-states | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer – Behind the Name }} In France, the name debuted among the top 1,000 names for girls in 1969. The name was among the top 100 names for French girls between 1977 and 1997. It reached peak popularity in 1985 and 1986, when it was No. 9 on the French popularity chart.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/france?type=percent | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Germany, the name was among the top 10 names between 1984 and 1995.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/germany | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Belgium the name was among the top 100 names between 1995 and 1997 and among the top 200 names between 1998 and 2003.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/belgium | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Sweden, the name was among the top 100 names for girls between 1998 and 2007.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/sweden | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Switzerland, the name was among the top 100 names between 1998 and 2006.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/switzerland | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Italy, the name was among the top 200 names for girls between 1999 and 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/italy?type=percent | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Austria, the name was among the top 100 names between 1985 and 2004.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/austria?type=sample | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In the Czech Republic, the name was among the top 200 names between 1993 and 2011.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/czechia?type=sample | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Poland, the name was among the top 200 names between 2000 and 2009.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/poland | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }} In Mexico, the name was among the top 150 names for girls in 2020 and 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/jennifer/top/mexico | title=Popularity for the name Jennifer - Behind the Name }}

Women

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Fictional characters

See also

{{Portal|Cornwall}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Given name|cat=English feminine given names}}

Category:Cornish language

Category:Celtic given names

Category:Given names

Category:English feminine given names

Category:Feminine given names

Category:English-language feminine given names