Gyneth
English Welsh feminine name meaning "fair and smooth".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Gyneth. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gyneth today is around 89 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gyneth births was 1920 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gyneth. 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 Gyneth is about 89 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gyneths were born before 1947.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gyneth. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1920
13 babies that year
Average age
89
years old
1944 SSA rank
#4,830
Tracked since 1905
Popularity
Gyneth: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gyneth from the 1900s through to the 1940s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 48 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
Gyneth 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 Gyneth during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gyneth
The name Gyneth is believed to have originated from the Welsh language, specifically derived from the Welsh name Gweneth or Gwenddydd. It is a feminine name that dates back to the Middle Ages, primarily used in Wales and other parts of Britain.
Gyneth is thought to be a variation of the Welsh word "gwen," which means "fair" or "blessed." The name may also be related to the Brythonic Celtic word "gwin," meaning "white" or "fair-skinned." This connection suggests that the name was initially given to describe a person's physical appearance, particularly their fair complexion.
In Welsh mythology and literature, the name Gyneth or Gweneth has been associated with various legendary figures. One notable example is the character of Gwenhwyfar, also known as Guinevere, who was the wife of King Arthur in Arthurian legend. While the name Gyneth itself is not directly mentioned in these tales, its similarity to Gwenhwyfar suggests a potential link to the rich cultural heritage of Wales.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Gyneth can be traced back to the 12th century, with records showing its use among the Welsh nobility and gentry. One notable historical figure bearing the name was Gyneth Goch ap Gruffydd (c. 1250-1292), a Welsh noblewoman and heiress who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh princes and the English Crown during the 13th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Gyneth, including:
1. Gyneth Paltrow (born 1972), an American actress, businesswoman, and author, known for her roles in films such as "Shakespeare in Love" and the "Iron Man" franchise.
2. Gyneth Vickers (1916-2005), a British actress and dancer, best known for her roles in films like "The Man in the White Suit" and "The Million Pound Note."
3. Gyneth Roberts (1905-1999), a Welsh poet and writer, known for her works that celebrated Welsh culture and language.
4. Gyneth Somerville (1894-1972), an English actress and writer, known for her roles in films like "The Winslow Boy" and "The Ghost Goes West."
5. Gyneth Lewis (born 1942), a Welsh poet and former National Poet of Wales, renowned for her works that explore themes of nature, identity, and language.
While the name Gyneth may have experienced periods of popularity and decline throughout history, its Welsh origins and connections to legendary figures and notable individuals have endured, making it a unique and culturally significant name that continues to be used in various parts of the world.
People
Gyneth + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gyneth 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
Gyneth: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gyneth?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gyneth 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Gyneth a common name?
We classify Gyneth as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 96 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gyneth most popular?
The single biggest year for Gyneth was 1920, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gyneth is about 89 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gyneth in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gyneth a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gyneth 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.
Is Gyneth still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gyneth in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gyneth can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Gyneth?
See how many Americans are named Gyneth on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.