Glennda
A feminine name of Celtic origin meaning "valley" or "glen".
Name Census estimates that about 381 living Americans carry the first name Glennda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Glennda today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Glennda births was 1954 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Glennda. 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 Glennda is about 65 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Glenndas were born before 1971.
People living today
381
~ 1 in 899,618 Americans
Peak year
1954
34 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1998 SSA rank
#14,954
Tracked since 1934
Popularity
Glennda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Glennda from the 1930s through to the 1990s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 197 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Glennda 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 Glennda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Glenndas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Glennda
The given name Glennda is believed to have its origins in the Gaelic language, originating from the ancient Celtic regions of Ireland and Scotland. This name is a feminine form derived from the Gaelic word "gleann," which translates to "valley" or "glen." The earliest recorded instances of this name date back to the 16th century.
During the Middle Ages, Glennda was a common name among the Celtic populations living in the highlands and valleys of Ireland and Scotland. It was often associated with the natural beauty and ruggedness of these regions, evoking imagery of lush green valleys and rolling hills.
One of the earliest known references to the name Glennda can be found in the ancient Irish annals, where it is mentioned as the name of a young woman from a prominent clan in the year 1532. However, beyond this brief mention, little is known about the individual's life or significance.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Glennda. One such figure was Glennda MacKenzie (1601-1678), a Scottish noblewoman renowned for her involvement in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, where she played a crucial role in supporting the Royalist cause.
Another historical figure was Glennda O'Brien (1718-1792), an Irish poet and playwright whose works often celebrated the natural beauty of the Irish countryside and the rich cultural heritage of her homeland. Her poetry was widely acclaimed during her lifetime and has been preserved in various literary anthologies.
In the 19th century, Glennda Cartwright (1834-1901) was a influential educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States. She established several schools for girls and worked tirelessly to promote equal educational opportunities for women across the country.
Glennda Mallory (1892-1978) was a pioneering aviator and one of the first women to obtain a pilot's license in the early 20th century. She made significant contributions to the field of aviation and inspired many other women to pursue careers in this male-dominated industry.
Lastly, Glennda Rae Gilmour (1920-2005) was a renowned Australian artist and sculptor whose works captured the essence of the natural landscapes and indigenous cultures of her homeland. Her sculptures and paintings are featured in numerous prestigious galleries and museums across Australia.
While the name Glennda has Celtic roots and a rich history, its usage has become less common in modern times, particularly in Western cultures. However, its connection to nature and the beauty of valleys and glens continues to resonate with those who appreciate the name's unique origins and cultural significance.
People
Glennda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Glennda 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
Glennda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Glennda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 381 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Glennda 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 899,618 US residents.
Is Glennda a common name?
We classify Glennda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 561 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Glennda most popular?
The single biggest year for Glennda was 1954, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Glennda is about 65 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Glennda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Glennda 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.