Gladies
A feminine name derived from gladiolus, the flower symbolizing strength.
Name Census estimates that about 25 living Americans carry the first name Gladies. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gladies today is around 88 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gladies births was 1925 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gladies. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Gladies is about 88 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gladies' were born before 1948.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gladies. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
25
~ 1 in 13,710,174 Americans
Peak year
1925
27 babies that year
Average age
88
years old
1952 SSA rank
#4,636
Tracked since 1908
Popularity
Gladies: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gladies from the 1900s through to the 1950s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 178 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gladies by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gladies during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gladies' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Gladies, while Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 8 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gladies
The name Gladies is a diminutive or pet form derived from the feminine Latin name Gladys. It is believed to have originated from the Welsh word "gwlad," meaning "country" or "native land." This suggests that the name likely emerged in regions with strong Celtic influences, such as Wales or other parts of Britain.
While the exact origins of the name are uncertain, it is thought to have first appeared during the Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 11th or 12th century. Some historical records indicate that variations of the name, such as Gladusa and Claudia, were used in medieval times, though their direct connection to Gladies is unclear.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Gladies was Gladies de Warenne, a noblewoman who lived in England during the 13th century. She was the daughter of William de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, and held significant landholdings in her own right.
In the 16th century, a woman named Gladies Raleigh, born around 1540, gained prominence as the wife of the renowned English explorer and writer, Sir Walter Raleigh. She played an important role in managing her husband's estates and affairs during his extended periods away on voyages and expeditions.
During the 17th century, Gladies Fairfax, born in 1630, was a notable figure in English history. She was the daughter of Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and was known for her strong religious convictions and support for the Puritan cause.
In the 18th century, Gladies Montagu, born in 1720, was a prominent English author and essayist. She was a member of the Bluestocking Circle, a prestigious literary group, and was celebrated for her witty and insightful writings on a variety of topics.
Another notable figure was Gladies Wollstonecraft, born in 1759, who was a pioneering advocate for women's rights and education. She is best known for her influential work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," which argued for the equal treatment and education of women.
While the name Gladies was more common in historical times, it has become relatively rare in modern usage. However, its enduring legacy can be traced through the numerous individuals who have borne this name throughout history, each contributing to its rich and diverse cultural heritage.
People
Gladies + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gladies as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gladies: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gladies?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 25 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gladies going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 13,710,174 US residents.
Is Gladies a common name?
We classify Gladies as "Very Rare". It ranks above 43.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 408 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gladies most popular?
The single biggest year for Gladies was 1925, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gladies is about 88 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gladies a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gladies in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.