What Does the Name Jennifer Mean?

Jennifer is a girl's name of Cornish (Celtic) origin meaning “fair one, white phantom.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Jennifer
Gender	female
Origin	Cornish (Celtic)
Meaning	fair one, white phantom
Variants	Guinevere, Gwenhwyfar, Jenny, Jen, Jennie
Popularity	The most popular US girls' name from 1970 to 1984

The meaning and origin of Jennifer

The name Jennifer means “fair one, white phantom” and has Cornish (Celtic) origins. The Cornish form of Guinevere, ultimately from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, combining elements meaning 'fair, white, smooth' and 'phantom, spirit.' Rare before the 20th century, it spread after appearing in George Bernard Shaw's play The Doctor's Dilemma (1906).

Variants and related names

Jennifer is related to several other names you may recognize: Guinevere, Gwenhwyfar, Jenny, Jen, Jennie. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Jennifer?

The most popular US girls' name from 1970 to 1984

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