Gaynor as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Gaynor

What is the meaning of the name Gaynor ?

The baby name Gaynor is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɡeɪnər/ (GAY-nor).

Gaynor is Welsh in Origin.

Gaynor is the Anglicized Welsh form of Gaenor (also Geinor), a feminine name cognate with Guinevere and ultimately from medieval Welsh Gwenhwyfar. The first element gwen means “white, fair, blessed”; hwyfar is often glossed “soft, smooth” and has yielded the traditional interpretation “white phantom/fey” for Gwenhwyfar. Through this lineage, Gaynor carries senses of brightness, fairness, and enchantment, and it sits alongside related English adaptations such as Jennifer.

Recorded in Wales since the Middle Ages as Gaenor, the spelling Gaynor gained currency in England and Wales during the late 19th and 20th centuries, with a modest mid-century peak. The name is used chiefly for girls, though occasional unisex use appears. Variants and relatives include Gaenor, Geinor, Gayner (rare), Guinevere, Jennifer, and Welsh Gwenhwyfar; diminutives Gay and Gaye occur. Gaynor also exists as a Welsh and Irish surname, sometimes informing given-name choice.