Yenifer
A feminine name of unclear origin, possibly from the French pronunciation of Jennifer.
Name Census estimates that about 1,132 living Americans carry the first name Yenifer. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yenifer today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yenifer births was 2006 (80 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yenifer. 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
1.1K
~ 1 in 302,787 Americans
Peak year
2006
80 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,915
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Yenifer: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yenifer from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 593 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yenifer 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 Yenifer during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yenifers live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Yenifer, while Arizona, New Jersey, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 59 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Yenifer
The name Yenifer is a modern variation of the more traditional feminine name Jennifer, which has its roots in the Welsh language. The name Jennifer itself is a compound of the Welsh elements "gen" meaning fair or white, and "fer" meaning smooth or sleek. Together, these elements combine to form a name meaning "the fair, smooth one" or "the fair, beautiful one."
In its early form, the name was spelled Gwenhwyfer or Gwenwhyfar in Welsh, and was the name of the mythical wife of King Arthur in Arthurian legend. Some of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in medieval Welsh texts and manuscripts from the 12th and 13th centuries.
The name Yenifer is thought to have emerged as a more modern spelling variation of Jennifer in the late 20th century, likely influenced by the Spanish language and culture. While the name Jennifer has been widely used in English-speaking countries for centuries, the spelling Yenifer is more commonly found in Spanish-speaking regions and among Hispanic communities.
One notable historical figure with the name Yenifer was Yenifer Castillo, a Venezuelan journalist and television presenter born in 1979. Castillo gained fame for her work as a news anchor and host on various Venezuelan television networks.
Another individual with this name was Yenifer Paredes, a Cuban volleyball player who represented her country at multiple international competitions, including the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
In the field of literature, Yenifer Ariza is a contemporary Colombian author and poet, known for her works exploring themes of identity, feminism, and social issues.
Moving to the realm of sports, Yenifer Delgado is a Chilean long-distance runner who has participated in several marathons and international competitions, setting national records in her country.
Lastly, Yenifer Utria is a Colombian singer and songwriter who has gained popularity in Latin America for her work in the genres of reggaeton and Latin pop.
While the name Yenifer may be a more recent variation, it carries with it the rich historical and cultural significance of its Welsh predecessor, Jennifer, which has been celebrated in literature, mythology, and various societies throughout the centuries.
People
Yenifer + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yenifer as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yenifer: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yenifer?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,132 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yenifer 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 302,787 US residents.
Is Yenifer a common name?
We classify Yenifer as "Rare". It ranks above 90.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,153 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yenifer most popular?
The single biggest year for Yenifer was 2006, when 80 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yenifer is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Yenifer a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yenifer 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.