Jennifer

• Jenifer

From Cornish, from Middle Cornish Gwynnever (cognate with Welsh Gwenhwyfar), from Proto-Brythonic *Gwɨnnohuɨβar. Doublet of Guinevere. Compare Irish Fionnbharr, Fionnabhair, which may be cognate.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɛnɪfɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɛnɪfə/

• Audio (southern England)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Jen‧ni‧fer

Jennifer

1. A female given name from Cornish, Middle Cornish, or Proto-Brittonic.
   • 1906 George Bernard Shaw, The Doctor's Dilemma, Act I:

     RIDGEON. Thats a wonderful drawing. Why is it called Jennifer?

     MRS DUBEDAT. My name is Jennifer.

     RIDGEON. A strange name.

     MRS DUBEDAT. Not in Cornwall. I am Cornish. It's only what you call Guinevere.

   • 1960 Jerrard Tickell, The Hunt for Richard Thorpe, Doubleday, page 10:

     "Most people's sisters have decent names like Jennifer or Jane or something. What did you say hers was?"

   • 2000, Dana Stabenow, Nothing Gold Can Stay, Dutton, →ISBN, page 131:

     Jennifer. Jenny with the light brown hair. Jenny-fair, their high school French teacher had called her, and fair she had been.

The name was mostly used in Cornwall before the 20th century. It became popular in all English-speaking countries, first in UK in the 1950s, and then in US as the top name for women born in 1970-1984.

• Gaynor
• Ginevra
• Guinevere
• Gweniver
• pet forms: Jen, Jena, Jeni, Jenn, Jenna, Jenni, Jennie, Jenny, Jeny

From English Jennifer, from Cornish, from Middle Cornish Gwynnever, from Proto-Brythonic *Gwɨnnohuɨβar.

Jennifer

1. a female given name from English [in turn from Cornish]

From English Jennifer in the 20th century.

• IPA^(key): /ʒɛ.ni.fɛʁ/, /ʒe.ni.fɛʁ/

Jennifer f

1. a female given name

From English Jennifer in the 20th century.

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɛnɪfɐ/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Jen‧ni‧fer

Jennifer

1. a female given name

From English Jennifer in the 20th century.

Jennifer c (genitive Jennifers)

1. a female given name