The story behind Gladys
Anglicized from Welsh Gwladus, of uncertain origin, perhaps connected with gwlad (“country”).
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Spanish entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Gladys, from Welsh Gwladus.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɡlædɪs/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Spanish: /ˈɡladis/
- Spanish: [ˈɡla.ð̞is]
Popularity
Gladys ranked #3224 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Gladys
Glynis
A female given name from Welsh, variant of Glenys.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Doris
From Ancient Greek Δωρίς (Dōrís). Etymology 1 sense 7 is owing to similarity to Boris. Borrowed from English Doris.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Douglas
Unadapted borrowing from English Douglas. a male given name from Scottish Gaelic, equivalent to English Douglas Borrowed from English Douglas.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Elvis
Unadapted borrowing from English Elvis. Unadapted borrowing from English Elvis.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ffransis
Borrowed from English Francis, from Latin Franciscus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Francis
Borrowed from Medieval Latin Franciscus (“French(man)”) (from Francia (“France”)). Doublet of Francisco and Franz. Borrowed from English Francis.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Gladys
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adamu
Borrowed from English Adam.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends U
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Agnes
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἁγνή (Hagnḗ), coming from Ancient Greek ἁγνός (hagnós, “pure, chaste”), Ancient Greek ἁγνεία (hagneía, “purity, chastity”). Doublet of Inez.…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Gladys
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length