Gwendolyn

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Gwendolyn

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Gwendolyn is the most popular spelling of Gwendolen, a Welsh name with a possible meaning of “White Ring.”

History:
The name was first used by Geoffrey of Monmouth, as Guendoloena, the name for Merlin’s wife in his work Vita Merlini (The Life of Merlin).

A Dictionary of First Names claims that Gwendolyn comes from Guenddoleu, a legendary queen, the wife of the king of Lorcrin (she killed her husband’s stepdaughter, Sabrina). More reliable sources, however, say that Geoffrey of Monmouth merely misread the Old Welsh masculine name, Guenoleu.

It was not used as a real name, however, until the early 19th century.
Gwendolen and Gwendoline were the original 19th century spellings, but Gwendolyn has become the most popular variant (in the United States, at least).

Pronunciation: gwen-doe-linn.

Diminutives:
English: Gwen, Gwenn, Gwenda, Gwenna, Wendy.

Alternates: Gwendolen, Gwendoline, Wendoline.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Gwen John (1876-1939)
British painter.
Gwendolyn Bennett (1902-1981)
American poet.
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
American poet.
Gwen Harwood (1920-)
Australian poet.

Educators, Scholar, and Social Workers:
Gwendolyn Margaret Carter (1906-1991)
American political scientist.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.074 % named Gwendolyn
0.031 % named Gwen
0.002 % named Gwenda
0.002 % named Gwenn

Popularity of Gwendolyn:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 320th most popular
1910-1920: 257th most popular.
1920-1930: 218th most popular.
1930-1940: 188th most popular.
1940-1950: 147th most popular.
1950-1960: 134th most popular.
1960-1970: 188th most popular.
1970-1980: 310th most popular.
1980-1990: 515th most popular.
1990: 712th most popular.
1991: 707th most popular.
1992: 700th most popular.
1993: 784th most popular.
1994: 733rd most popular.
1995: 844th most popular.
1996: 762nd most popular.
1997: 703rd most popular.
1998: 714th most popular.
1999: 660th most popular.
2000: 730th most popular.
2001: 675th most popular.
2002: 589th most popular.
2003: 598th most popular.

Popularity of Gwen:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 832nd most popular.
1910-1920: 641st most popular.
1920-1930: 702nd most popular.
1930-1940: 413th most popular.
1940-1950: 382nd most popular.
1950-1960: 325th most popular.
1960-1970: 406th most popular.
1970-1980: 593rd most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Gwendoline:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1900-1980: N/A
1984: 134th most popular.
1990: 57th most popular.
2000: 135th most popular.