Jennifer Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Jennifer is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Jennifer?
Jennifer is spelled J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R. The name has 8 letters.
Jennifer at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Jennifer is commonly understood to mean “fair one” or “white wave.”
- Origin
- Jennifer is an English form of the Cornish name Gwenhwyfar.
- Pronunciation
- JEN-ih-fer · 3 syllables
Jennifer Popularity in 2025
Rank#586
Recorded Births501
- Girls usage fell 42 places to #586 and recorded 55 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Jennifer Mean?
Jennifer is commonly understood to mean “fair one” or “white wave.”
Origin: Jennifer is an English form of the Cornish name Gwenhwyfar.
How Do You Pronounce Jennifer?
PronunciationJEN-ih-fer
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Jennifer?
- History
- The name Jennifer was used in the Middle Ages and is now popular in the English-speaking world.
Jennifer Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2008 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 501 | #586 |
| 2024 | Girls | 556 | #544 |
| 2023 | Girls | 586 | #520 |
| 2022 | Girls | 630 | #501 |
| 2021 | Girls | 638 | #493 |
| 2020 | Girls | 713 | #431 |
| 2019 | Girls | 788 | #390 |
| 2018 | Girls | 921 | #344 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,052 | #309 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,162 | #272 |
| 2016 | Boys | 6 | #10,744 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,286 | #251 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,521 | #222 |
| 2014 | Boys | 6 | #10,717 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,692 | #192 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,928 | #164 |
| 2012 | Boys | 5 | #12,274 |
| 2011 | Girls | 2,281 | #134 |
| 2011 | Boys | 6 | #10,808 |
| 2010 | Girls | 2,622 | #121 |
| 2010 | Boys | 6 | #10,766 |
| 2009 | Girls | 2,987 | #110 |
| 2009 | Boys | 5 | #12,491 |
| 2008 | Girls | 3,797 | #84 |
When Was Jennifer Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1972 · Girls
63,600 recorded births
National rank #1
1974 · Girls
63,107 recorded births
National rank #1
1973 · Girls
62,448 recorded births
National rank #1
1976 · Girls
59,473 recorded births
National rank #1
Where Jennifer Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| SC | #373 | 13 |
| NV | #374 | 7 |
| IN | #396 | 17 |
| CA | #442 | 75 |
| KS | #445 | 7 |
| WA | #478 | 14 |
| OK | #483 | 8 |
| WI | #484 | 10 |