Gladys

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Gladys

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Gladys is the English form of Gwladys, the Welsh form of Claudia, a Latin name meaning “Lame.”

History:
Gladys was first noted as Glaudusa in 1207. It remained a Welsh name until 1870 when a novel of Ouida’s, Puck, used Gladys as a character name. Gladys was popular for about fifty years.

Pronunciation: glad-iss.

Alternates: Gwladys, Gwladus, Gladis.

Famous Bearers:
Singers and Entertainers:
Dame Gladys Cooper (1888-1971)
British actress.
Gladys Knight (1944-)
American singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.205 % named Gladys
0.003 % named Gladis

Popularity of Gladys:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 15th most popular.
1910-1920: 20th most popular.
1920-1930: 31st most popular.
1930-1940: 60th most popular.
1940-1950: 123rd most popular.
1950-1960: 198th most popular.
1960-1970: 302nd most popular.
1970-1980: 514th most popular.
1980-1990: 612th most popular.
1990: 513th most popular.
1991: 612th most popular.
1992: 636th most popular.
1993: 637th most popular.
1994: 689th most popular.
1995: 697th most popular.
1996: 740th most popular.
1997: 821st most popular.
1998: N/A