UK girl's name
Gwenevere
A feminine given name of Welsh origin meaning "fair" or "blessed".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gwenevere is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gwenevere popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 5 births.
This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2014 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 22 living people in the UK are called Gwenevere. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gwenevere ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 5 girls were registered as Gwenevere.
- • About 22 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gwenevere as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
5 births
Estimated living
22
2026
Meaning
What does Gwenevere mean?
The name Gwenevere, alternatively spelled as Guinevere or Gwenhwyfar, has its roots in the medieval Welsh language. It is derived from the elements "gwen" meaning fair, white, or blessed, and "hwyfar" meaning smooth or sublime. The name can be translated to mean "the fair and sublime one" or "the blessed smooth-browed one."
The earliest known reference to this name is found in the Arthurian legends, where Gwenevere is depicted as the beautiful and enigmatic queen consort of King Arthur. These legendary tales are believed to have originated in the 5th or 6th century, drawing inspiration from various Celtic myths and folklore.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 12th-century work "Historia Regum Britanniae" (History of the Kings of Britain) by Geoffrey of Monmouth. In this text, Gwenevere is portrayed as the wife of Arthur and a central figure in the Arthurian court.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Gwenevere gained popularity in Europe, particularly in Britain and France, where it was often associated with the ideals of courtly love and chivalry. Notable historical figures who bore this name include Gwenevere of Brittany (c. 1188-1233), a Duchess of Brittany and Countess of Richmond.
In literature, Gwenevere has been a recurring character in numerous works inspired by the Arthurian legends, including Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" (1485) and Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" (1859-1885). These literary works have contributed to the enduring popularity and recognition of the name.
Other notable individuals named Gwenevere include Gwenevere of Cihaloger (c. 1162-1233), a Welsh noblewoman and wife of Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth; Gwenevere, Countess of Anjou (c. 1290-1349), a French noblewoman and wife of Charles of Valois; and Gwenevere of Brittany (c. 1280-1337), a Breton noblewoman and daughter of Arthur II, Duke of Brittany.
While the name Gwenevere has maintained a strong association with the Arthurian legends, it has also been adopted and adapted across various cultures and languages, reflecting its enduring appeal and historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gwenevere over time
The chart below shows babies named Gwenevere registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gwenevere, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gwenevere by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gwenevere was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5265 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5016 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Gwenevere
- Grace 79,208
- Georgia 48,838
- Gracie 18,387
- Georgina 15,599
- Gabriella 10,902
- Gemma 8,350
- Gabrielle 7,154
- Georgie 4,883
- Gabriela 3,300
- Genevieve 2,393
- Gracie-Mae 1,727
- Greta 1,283
FAQ
Gwenevere: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gwenevere in the UK right now?
In 2024, Gwenevere was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Gwenevere most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 5 babies registered as Gwenevere in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gwenevere?
A feminine given name of Welsh origin meaning "fair" or "blessed".
How many people are called Gwenevere in the UK?
A total of 22 babies have been registered as Gwenevere across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.