Jennifer
Jennifer is the Cornish form of Guinevere, the Welsh "Gwenhwyfar" — "gwen" (white, fair) and "hwyfar" (smooth, soft, or phantom). The name thus means "white wave" or "fair phantom." Guinevere, of course, was the queen of King Arthur who fell in love with Lancelot. The Cornish form Jennifer was used locally for centuries, then exploded internationally in the mid-20th century. Jennifer is the most dramatic case of naming popularity in modern history. It went from rare to #1 in the US in less than 15 years. Jennifer was the #1 girl name from 1970 to 1984 — an astonishing 15-year reign. The driver was the 1970 film "Love Story" starring Ali MacGraw as Jennifer Cavilleri. The movie was a sensation, and the name followed. I find Jennifer has a soft, slightly 1970s quality — the "J" opening is firm, the "nn" gives it softness, and the "fer" ending gives it a slight flutter. The name is now generational — Jennifer is the defining name of Generation X women. Jennifer Lawrence (born 1990), the actress known for "The Hunger Games" and "Silver Linings Playbook," gave the name a contemporary charge. Jennifer is a female name of Welsh origin that means "White wave, fair phantom (from Guinevere)". 70s, soft, and friendly. The name sounds approachable. Jennifers tend to be sociable. US #1 from 1970-1984. Now top 500. Well-known people named Jennifer include Jennifer (Love Story character), Jennifer Lawrence (actress), Jennifer Aniston (actress), Guinevere (Arthurian original). Common variations and related forms of Jennifer include Guinevere (Welsh original), Jenny (short form), Jenna (modern variant), Ginevra (Italian).