Gwynevere Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: gwin-eh-veer //ɡwɪˈnɛvɪr//
Origin: Welsh; English
Meaning: fair one; white phantom
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gwynevere has its roots in the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, which is composed of the elements 'gwen' meaning 'white' or 'fair' and 'hwyfar' meaning 'smooth' or 'soft'. This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old Welsh to Middle Welsh, and ultimately into the form Gwynevere as it entered the English lexicon.
The name was adopted into Latin as 'Guinevere', which was later used in the Old French form 'Guenhwyfar', before being anglicized to Gwynevere in Middle English, particularly during the medieval period when Arthurian legends gained prominence in literature. Gwynevere is most famously associated with the legendary Queen Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, a central figure in Arthurian romance that flourished in the 12th century.
The tales of King Arthur and his court, particularly those by Geoffrey of Monmouth and later Thomas Malory in the 15th century, solidified Gwynevere's place in literary history. These narratives often depict her as a figure of beauty and tragedy, caught in a love triangle with Arthur and Sir Lancelot, which has resonated through centuries of storytelling and artistic representation.
Culturally, Gwynevere embodies themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal, making her a significant character in the exploration of chivalric ideals and the complexities of human relationships in medieval literature. The name has been romanticized and idealized in various adaptations, from medieval poetry to modern interpretations in film and literature.
The diminutive form 'Gwen' has also emerged, reflecting the name's enduring legacy and its association with purity and beauty, further enriching its cultural significance.
Fictional characters named Gwynevere
The following list of fictional characters named Gwynevere is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Gwynevere is a fictional character from the video game series Dark Souls. She is a key figure in the lore, known as the daughter of the First Flame and associated with the concept of fire and light.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gwynevere, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Gwynevere was first seen in the United States in 1999.
Gwynevere has ranked as high as #1305 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Texas, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Gwynevere has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gwynevere is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Gwynevere was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Gwynevere (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 | |
| FL | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Gwynevere.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2019 | 29 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 1999 | 7 |