Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Guinevere
GirlWelsh· “fair and smooth”
- Meaning
- fair and smooth
- Origin
- Welsh
- Pronunciation
- GWIH-nuh-veer
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #899
- US babies 2025
- 295
- Best rank
- #899 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Guinevere
Guinevere is a Welsh name that is usually said to mean “fair and smooth”.
Guinevere is the English form of the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, usually explained as fair and smooth, from gwen, white or fair, and a second element of debated meaning. In Arthurian legend, Guinevere is King Arthur's queen, whose love for Lancelot is a central thread of the stories. Writers from Chrétien de Troyes to Thomas Malory and Alfred Tennyson retold her tale. The name feels romantic and regal. Nicknames include Gwen, Winnie and Vera, and the related Jennifer developed from a Cornish form of the same name.
Popularity over time
Guinevere first appears in US Social Security records in 1912. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 4 different years, starting in 2021. Its best national rank was #899 in 2025, and the most babies received it in 2022, when 299 were named Guinevere. In 2025, 295 babies were named Guinevere, and it ranked #899 nationally. That is 68% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,312 in 1920, #5,595 in 1950, #3,892 in 1980, #3,135 in 2000, #2,948 in 2010, and #899 in 2025. Of the 4,592 US girls named Guinevere since records began, 36% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 1,390 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Nori, Sapphire, Emryn, Alitzel, and Ainara.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Guinevere ranked highest in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Missouri.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #222 | 6 |
| Colorado | #475 | 12 |
| Missouri | #493 | 12 |
| Oregon | #512 | 7 |
| Indiana | #525 | 13 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Guinevere is usually pronounced GWIH-nuh-veer, with three syllables. It has nine letters, starts with G and ends in “-re”.
Middle names for Guinevere
A few middle names that flow with Guinevere: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Guinevere
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Lists that include Guinevere
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Guinevere mean?
Guinevere is a Welsh name that is usually said to mean “fair and smooth”.
What is the origin of the name Guinevere?
Guinevere has Welsh roots. Guinevere is the English form of the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, usually explained as fair and smooth, from gwen, white or fair, and a second element of debated meaning.
Is Guinevere a popular name?
Yes. Guinevere ranked #899 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Guinevere a boy or girl name?
Guinevere is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Guinevere?
Guinevere is usually pronounced GWIH-nuh-veer. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings