Gwynevere
A Welsh feminine name derived from ancient Celtic elements meaning "blessed" or "fair and smooth".
Name Census estimates that about 377 living Americans carry the first name Gwynevere. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gwynevere today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gwynevere births was 2024 (55 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gwynevere. 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.
People living today
377
~ 1 in 909,163 Americans
Peak year
2024
55 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,976
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Gwynevere: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gwynevere from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 181 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gwynevere 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 Gwynevere during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gwyneveres live
Origin
Meaning and history of Gwynevere
The name Gwynevere is derived from the Welsh language and has its roots in the early medieval period. It is a feminine variant of the name Gwenhwyfar, which means "white spirit" or "fair spirit" in Welsh. The name is closely associated with the legendary figure of Lady Gwenhwyfar, better known as Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur in Arthurian legends.
The earliest recorded use of the name Gwynevere dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in the works of medieval Welsh poets and storytellers. It was often used as a poetic name or epithet for the character of Guinevere in the tales of the Knights of the Round Table and the mythical exploits of King Arthur.
In literature, the name Gwynevere is prominently featured in Sir Thomas Malory's 15th-century work "Le Morte d'Arthur," which recounts the tales of King Arthur and his knights. Malory's portrayal of Guinevere, spelled as "Gwynevere," had a significant influence on subsequent depictions of the character in various artistic and literary works.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Gwynevere. One of the earliest recorded examples is Gwynevere de Monmouth (c. 1150 – c. 1200), a Welsh noblewoman who was a descendant of the legendary King Arthur. Another notable figure was Gwynevere de Burgh (c. 1280 – c. 1350), an English noblewoman and the daughter of Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster.
In the realm of literature, Gwynevere Finlay (1900 – 1991) was a Scottish author and poet known for her works on Scottish folklore and mythology. Additionally, Gwynevere Montague (1932 – 2013) was an American actress and writer who appeared in various television shows and films throughout her career.
More recently, Gwynevere Ward (born 1979) is a British actress and singer who has appeared in various stage productions and television series. She is known for her portrayal of Constance Bonacieux in the BBC series "The Musketeers."
While the name Gwynevere has its roots in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legends, it has transcended its medieval origins and continues to be used as a distinctive and evocative name in various cultures and societies.
People
Gwynevere + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gwynevere 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
Gwynevere: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gwynevere?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 377 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gwynevere 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 909,163 US residents.
Is Gwynevere a common name?
We classify Gwynevere as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 380 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gwynevere most popular?
The single biggest year for Gwynevere was 2024, when 55 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gwynevere is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gwynevere a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gwynevere 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.