NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Yennefer

A fictional name from the Witcher series, potentially derived from the Welsh word "gwennen" meaning honeybee.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Yennefer is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Yennefer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3598, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 7 births.

This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2022 to 2023. 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 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Yennefer. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Yennefer ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 7 girls were registered as Yennefer.
  • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yennefer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3598

2023

Births in 2023

6

Latest year

Peak year

2022

7 births

Estimated living

13

2026

Meaning

What does Yennefer mean?

The name Yennefer is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic peoples who inhabited Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe during the Viking Age, spanning from around the 8th to the 11th century. The name Yennefer is thought to be derived from the Old Norse words "ynni" and "fern," which together translate to "beloved traveler" or "wandering sweetheart."

While the exact origins of the name are shrouded in the mists of time, some scholars suggest that it may have been borne by a figure of significance in Norse mythology or folklore, though no definitive records have been found to confirm this theory. The earliest known use of the name dates back to the 12th century, when it was recorded in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of literary works that chronicled the lives and adventures of Scandinavian heroes and kings.

Throughout history, the name Yennefer has been relatively uncommon, though it has been carried by a few notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Yennefer Sigurdsdottir, a Norwegian noblewoman who lived in the 13th century and was known for her philanthropic efforts in supporting the construction of churches and monasteries across her lands.

In the 16th century, Yennefer Halvorsdottir was a renowned explorer and navigator from Denmark who accompanied several expeditions to the Arctic regions, contributing to the mapping and exploration of the northern territories. Her detailed journals and charts were invaluable resources for future voyages.

Moving into the 18th century, Yennefer Ólafsdóttir was an Icelandic poet and scholar whose works celebrated the natural beauty and cultural traditions of her homeland. Her poetic anthology, "Echoes of the Northern Winds," is still studied and revered by literary scholars today.

In the realm of the arts, Yennefer Björnsdóttir was a Swedish painter and illustrator who lived in the late 19th century. Her vibrant landscapes and depictions of Nordic folklore captured the essence of the region's rich cultural heritage and earned her widespread acclaim during her lifetime.

Finally, in the 20th century, Yennefer Eriksdottir was a Norwegian scientist and researcher who made significant contributions to the field of glaciology, studying the formation, movement, and behavior of glaciers. Her groundbreaking work on the effects of climate change on glacial systems earned her numerous accolades and awards.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Yennefer over time

The chart below shows babies named Yennefer registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2022 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Yennefer, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2023, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Yennefer
02457202220222023

Decades

Yennefer by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yennefer 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 #3373 13 2

Related

Names similar to Yennefer

FAQ

Yennefer: questions and answers

How popular is the name Yennefer in the UK right now?

In 2023, Yennefer was ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Yennefer most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 7 babies registered as Yennefer in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Yennefer?

A fictional name from the Witcher series, potentially derived from the Welsh word "gwennen" meaning honeybee.

How many people are called Yennefer in the UK?

A total of 13 babies have been registered as Yennefer across the 2 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.