The story behind Jennifer
From Cornish Gweniver, from Middle Cornish Gwynnever (cognate with Welsh Gwenhwyfar), from Proto-Brythonic *Gwɨnnohuɨβar. Doublet of Guinevere. Compare Irish Fionnabhair, which may be cognate. The /d͡ʒ/ consonantism is due to Anglo-Norman influence; compare Old French Genievre /d͡ʒəˈniɛ̯vɾə/, /d͡ʒəˈnjɛvɾə/.
Other language forms and explanations (4)
French entry
From English Jennifer in the 20th century.
German entry
From English Jennifer in the 20th century.
Spanish entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Jennifer.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Jennifer, from Cornish, from Middle Cornish Gwynnever, from Proto-Brythonic *Gwɨnnohuɨβar.
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈd͡ʒɛnɪfɚ/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɛnɪfə/
- French: /ʒɛ.ni.fɛʁ/
- French: /ʒe.ni.fɛʁ/
- German: /ˈd͡ʒɛnɪfɐ/
- Spanish: /ˈʝenifeɾ/
- Spanish: [ˈɟ͡ʝe.ni.feɾ]
- Spanish: /ˈʃenifeɾ/
- Spanish: [ˈʃe.ni.feɾ]
- Spanish: /ˈʒenifeɾ/
- Spanish: [ˈʒe.ni.feɾ]
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈd͡ʒenifeɾ/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˌd͡ʒɛː.n̪ɪˈfɛɾ]
- Tagalog: /ˈd͡ʒenipeɾ/
- Tagalog: [ˌd͡ʒɛː.n̪ɪˈpɛɾ]
- Tagalog: /ˈdjenipeɾ/
- Tagalog: [ˌd̪jɛː.n̪ɪˈpɛɾ]
Popularity
Jennifer ranked #586 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Jennifer
Juniper
A topographic surname from juniper. In some cases matronymic from an equivalent of Jennifer influenced by folk etymology.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Cristopher
Borrowed from English Christopher. Doublet of Cristóbal.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
December
English December From Middle English December, Decembre, from Old French decembre, from Latin december (“tenth month”), from Latin decem (“ten”); + Latin -ber, from -bris, an…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Dzsenifer
From English Jennifer, from Cornish.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Gweniver
From Cornish, from Middle Cornish Gwynnever, from Proto-Brythonic *Gwɨnnohuɨβar. Doublet of Jennifer.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Oliver
Inherited from Middle English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology derived from the Latin name Olīvārius, but probably representing an Old High German form of Old…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Jennifer
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
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- 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 Jennifer
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
Agatha
Borrowed from Latin Agatha, from Ancient Greek Ἀγαθή (Agathḗ), from Ancient Greek ἀγαθός (agathós, “good”). Ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἀγαθή (Agathḗ), feminine of ἀγαθός…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length