Girl
Gwendolyn
white ring, blessed ring
About Gwendolyn
This sophisticated name carries an air of timeless refinement that never goes out of style. Parents drawn to Gwendolyn often appreciate its literary connections and vintage charm, yet it remains surprisingly versatile for modern life. The name offers numerous nickname possibilities, from the spunky Gwen to the whimsical Winnie, allowing a child to choose how she presents herself at different stages of life. Its three-syllable structure gives it a musical quality when spoken aloud, and it pairs beautifully with both classic and contemporary middle names. Gwendolyn has graced poets, artists, and leaders throughout history, suggesting a name that grows gracefully from childhood through adulthood. The Welsh heritage adds an element of mystique without being overly exotic, making it accessible across different cultures while maintaining its distinctive character.
Popularity of the Name Gwendolyn
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #871 | |||
| 1881 | #873 | |||
| 1887 | #891 | |||
| 1888 | #918 | |||
| 1889 | #773 | |||
| 1890 | #848 | |||
| 1892 | #697 | |||
| 1893 | #775 | |||
| 1894 | #763 | |||
| 1895 | #566 | |||
| 1896 | #644 | |||
| 1897 | #587 | |||
| 1898 | #562 | |||
| 1899 | #599 | |||
| 1900 | #571 | |||
| 1901 | #484 | |||
| 1902 | #409 | |||
| 1903 | #404 | |||
| 1904 | #380 | |||
| 1905 | #410 | |||
| 1906 | #359 | |||
| 1907 | #356 | #175 | ||
| 1908 | #314 | |||
| 1909 | #325 | |||
| 1910 | #311 | #164 | ||
| 1911 | #279 | |||
| 1912 | #269 | #138 | ||
| 1913 | #271 | |||
| 1914 | #265 | |||
| 1915 | #246 | |||
| 1916 | #254 | |||
| 1917 | #258 | |||
| 1918 | #250 | |||
| 1919 | #252 | #165 | ||
| 1920 | #236 | #146 | ||
| 1921 | #227 | #161 | ||
| 1922 | #233 | #177 | ||
| 1923 | #222 | |||
| 1924 | #220 | #167 | ||
| 1925 | #218 | #171 | ||
| 1926 | #217 | #202 | ||
| 1927 | #204 | |||
| 1928 | #203 | |||
| 1929 | #207 | |||
| 1930 | #200 | |||
| 1931 | #205 | |||
| 1932 | #198 | |||
| 1933 | #183 | |||
| 1934 | #181 | |||
| 1935 | #180 | |||
| 1936 | #191 | |||
| 1937 | #184 | |||
| 1938 | #169 | |||
| 1939 | #168 | |||
| 1940 | #169 | |||
| 1941 | #168 | |||
| 1942 | #169 | |||
| 1943 | #161 | |||
| 1944 | #160 | |||
| 1945 | #151 | |||
| 1946 | #132 | |||
| 1947 | #130 | |||
| 1948 | #124 | |||
| 1949 | #114 | |||
| 1950 | #113 | |||
| 1951 | #112 | |||
| 1952 | #114 | |||
| 1953 | #112 | |||
| 1954 | #122 | |||
| 1955 | #122 | |||
| 1956 | #128 | |||
| 1957 | #132 | |||
| 1958 | #151 | |||
| 1959 | #159 | |||
| 1960 | #163 | |||
| 1961 | #165 | |||
| 1962 | #161 | |||
| 1963 | #171 | |||
| 1964 | #193 | #395 | ||
| 1965 | #194 | |||
| 1966 | #217 | #404 | ||
| 1967 | #219 | |||
| 1968 | #233 | |||
| 1969 | #247 | |||
| 1970 | #254 | |||
| 1971 | #267 | #365 | ||
| 1972 | #289 | #447 | ||
| 1973 | #304 | #545 | ||
| 1974 | #301 | #406 | ||
| 1975 | #297 | #357 | ||
| 1976 | #313 | #456 | ||
| 1977 | #367 | |||
| 1978 | #385 | #405 | ||
| 1979 | #406 | #565 | ||
| 1980 | #441 | |||
| 1981 | #478 | |||
| 1982 | #481 | |||
| 1983 | #496 | |||
| 1984 | #536 | |||
| 1985 | #494 | |||
| 1986 | #549 | |||
| 1987 | #609 | |||
| 1988 | #638 | |||
| 1989 | #648 | |||
| 1990 | #680 | |||
| 1991 | #683 | |||
| 1992 | #684 | |||
| 1993 | #773 | |||
| 1994 | #716 | |||
| 1995 | #855 | |||
| 1996 | #754 | |||
| 1997 | #691 | |||
| 1998 | #702 | |||
| 1999 | #660 | |||
| 2000 | #732 | |||
| 2001 | #672 | |||
| 2002 | #578 | |||
| 2003 | #597 | #683 | ||
| 2004 | #590 | |||
| 2005 | #564 | |||
| 2006 | #629 | #856 | ||
| 2007 | #651 | #858 | ||
| 2008 | #590 | #737 | ||
| 2009 | #582 | #834 | ||
| 2010 | #561 | #724 | ||
| 2011 | #566 | #691 | ||
| 2012 | #514 | #511 | ||
| 2013 | #471 | #555 | ||
| 2014 | #422 | #937 | #413 | |
| 2015 | #406 | #474 | ||
| 2016 | #402 | #617 | ||
| 2017 | #377 | #498 | ||
| 2018 | #371 | #517 | ||
| 2019 | #370 | #770 | ||
| 2020 | #378 | #510 | ||
| 2021 | #397 | #562 | ||
| 2022 | #389 | #492 | ||
| 2023 | #379 | #460 | ||
| 2024 | #393 | #479 | ||
| 2025 | #360 | #524 |
Top names by country: United States · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Gwendolyn
- Gwendolen
- Guendolen
- Gwendoline
Names Similar to Gwendolyn
Nicknames for Gwendolyn
- Gwen
- Wendy
- Lyn
- Gwennie
- Dolly
Famous People Named Gwendolyn
| Gwendolyn Brooks | American poet |
| Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks | American physicist |
| Gwendoline Christie | British actress |
| Gwendolyn Clare | American author |
| Gwendolyn Hooks | American children's author |
| Gwendolyn L. Ifill | American journalist |
| Gwendoline Riley | British author |
| Gwendolyn Rutten | Belgian politician |
| Gwendolyn Sanford | American composer |
| Gwendolyn Alleyne Simmons | Canadian politician |
| Gwendolyn Jo Simmons | American actress |
| Gwendolyn Sweet | American violinist |
| Gwendolyn Sykes | American painter |
| Gwendolyn M. Costello | American artist |
| Gwendolyn Zepeda | American writer |
| Gwendolyn Audrey Foster | American film scholar |
| Gwendolyn MacEwen | Canadian poet |
| Gwendolyn Mink | American author and professor |
| Gwendolyn Midlo Hall | American historian |
| Gwendolyn L. "Wendy" Reed | American politician |
Characters Named Gwendolyn
| Gwendolyn Fairfax | character in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" |
| Gwendolyn Stacy | character in the Spider-Man comic book series |
| Gwendolyn Post | character in the TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" |
| Gwendolyn Shepherd | character in the film "Gwendolyn" |
| Gwendolyn Ingolfsson | character in the film "Saving Grace" |
| Gwendolyn "Gwen" Cooper | character in the TV show "Torchwood" |
| Gwendolyn Powers | character in the video game "Tales of the Abyss" |
| Gwendolyn "Gwen" Tennyson | character in the animated series "Ben 10" |
| Gwendolyn "Gwen" Grayson | character in the film "Sky High" |
| Gwendolyn "Gwen" Poole | character in Marvel Comics |