Girl · #8,084 in 2026

Gwendolen

Gwendolen is a feminine given name, in general use only since the 19th century.

Current Rank
#8,084
Peak Rank
#1,592 (1971)
Total Babies
901
5-Yr Trend
-9%
1903
First Year
2026
Last Year
1971
Peak Year
#1592
Peak Rank
901
Total Count
76
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Gwendolen

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Gwendolen is a feminine given name, in general use only since the 19th century.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Gwendolen

Gwendolen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1903, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1971, when 34 Gwendolens were born — ranking #2,296 that year. As of 2026, Gwendolen ranks #8,084 for baby girls with 12 births, gradually falling (-9%). In total, more than 901 Gwendolens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Notable people named Gwendolen

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Gwendolen Margaret Carter (1906–1991), Canadian scholar of African affairs
  • Gwendolen Mary "Gwen" John (1876–1939), Welsh painter
  • Gwendolen Fer (born 1986), French Equestrian rider
  • Gwendolen Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk (1877–1945), British duchess
  • Gwendolen Guinness, Countess of Iveagh (1881–1966), Conservative politician in the United Kingdom
  • Gwendolen "Len" Howard (1894–1973), British naturalist and musician
  • Gwendolen Overton , American writer
  • Joyce Gwendolen Quin (born 1944), Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Gwendolen

Phonetically similar names — useful when Gwendolen is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gwendolen

What does the name Gwendolen mean?
Gwendolen is a feminine given name, in general use only since the 19th century.
How popular is Gwendolen in 2026?
In 2026, Gwendolen ranks #8,084 among girls' names in the U.S., with 12 babies given the name that year.
When was Gwendolen most popular?
Gwendolen reached its peak popularity in 1971, ranking #1,592 that year with 34 babies given the name.
Is Gwendolen a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Gwendolen is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Gwendolen?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Gwendolen include Clennie, Adna, Austie. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Gwendolen

Gwendolen is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1903 and has accumulated 901 births in the dataset. Gwendolen's peak popularity came in 1971 when it ranked #1,592. Use the chart and map above to compare Gwendolen's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.