Given name · also Old French
Guinevere
“one with smooth and fair skin”·“the son of a fair-haired man”
In English use, Guinevere has a related form in Gaynor. Interpretations include “one with smooth and fair skin” (Welsh) and “the son of a fair-haired man”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original WelshGwenhwyfar
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Guinevere has a related form in Gaynor. Interpretations include “one with smooth and fair skin” (Welsh) and “the son of a fair-haired man”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Old French and Welsh naming traditions.
How it developed
Guinevere developed from Welsh Gwenhwyfar. The earlier name combines gwen (“white, fair, blessed, holy”) and hwyfar (“smooth, soft”).
The story
In mythological stories, Guinevere is associated with King Arthur's queen. Its literary history includes the stories of King Arthur and his knights.
Guinevere through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,592
- 0 boys · 4,592 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 299 babies
- 2025
- 295
- #899 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +51%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 295 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 899 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 51.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (34). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,514 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Guinevere’s family of names
In English usage, Guinevere has a diminutive in Gwen. In English usage, Guinevere shares an earlier linguistic root with Jennifer. Guinevere has a related form in Gwyn.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Guinevere has relatives in 10 languages. Lines run from its Welsh roots to each of them.
Welshwhere Guinevere comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 37
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Gwenclipped form · English
- Gweneverevariant
- Ginevravariant · English, Italian
- Gwynnvariant
- Gwynvariant
- Gwynnevariant
- Guinneverelikely variant
- Gaynorvariant · English
Show 29 moreShow fewer
- Gwennvariant
- Gueneverevariant
- Gwenyverevariant
- Gwenhyvarvariant · English
- Gwenhwyfarvariant · English, Welsh
- Gwenyvervariant
- Gwennorvariant
- Gwenifervariant
- Gwenhwyvarvariant
- Gvenourvariant
- Guanhumoravariant
- Guanhamaravariant
- Gwynnavariant
- Gwenorevariant
- Gwenoravariant
- Gwennyvariant
- Gwennorevariant
- Gwennoravariant
- Gwennolavariant
- Gwennievariant
- Gwenivervariant
- Guinnavariant
- Guinevervariant
- Guennolavariant
- Guennavariant
- Guenivervariant
- Guenevervariant
- Gwynhyvarvariant
- Guenhwyvarvariant
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Juniperequivalent
- Jenniferdoublet · English
- Wynrelated form
- GinebraCatalan, Spanish
- Ginewraderivative · Polish
- Fionnabhaircognate · Irish
- Finnabaircognate · mga
- Quinevererelated form
Show 3 moreShow fewer
People named Guinevere
- Guinevere TurnerAmerican actress and writerborn 1968
- Guin BattenBritish rowerborn 1967
- Guinevere KauffmannAmerican astrophysicistborn 1968
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Guinevere, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Yseult
“of fair aspect”
3% boys · 97% girls
Esyllt
“a woman known for her beauty”
>99% girls
Maeve
“intoxicating, she who makes drunk” · “an intoxicating woman”
>99% girls
Isolde
“of fair aspect”
>99% girls
Cordelia
“a good-hearted woman; a woman of honesty”
>99% girls
Rhiannon
“the great and sacred queen”
>99% girls
Elaine
“the shining light” · “resembling a fawn”
>99% girls
Imogen
“a maiden” · “one who is innocent and pure”
>99% girls