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Guinevere as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Guinevere

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The baby name Guinevere is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced GWIN-ə-VEER (ˈɡwɪnəvɪər).

Guinevere is Welsh in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: GWIN-ə-VEER (ˈɡwɪnəvɪər)

What is the meaning of the name Guinevere ?

The baby name Guinevere is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced GWIN-ə-VEER (ˈɡwɪnəvɪər).

Guinevere is Welsh in Origin.

Guinevere descends from Welsh Gwenhwyfar, formed from gwen “white, fair, blessed” and (h)wyfar, interpreted as “smooth, soft” or “phantom/fairy,” yielding meanings like “white phantom” or “the fair, gentle one.” Via Breton and Anglo‑Norman transmission it produced Old French Guenièvre and Middle English forms like Guen(e)vere and Geynour. It stands behind the Cornish Jennifer and related Welsh Gaynor; other variants include Gwenhwyfar (Welsh), Guinevere/Guenevere/Gwenevere, and the literary Italian Ginevra.

Best known as the name of King Arthur’s queen, Guinevere anchors the Matter of Britain, especially in Chrétien de Troyes’ romances and Malory’s Le Morte Darthur, where her love for Lancelot shapes the legend. Though seldom used in medieval England, it was revived by Victorian medievalism and has periodically resurfaced in modern naming. Contemporary bearers favor nicknames like Gwen, Guin, Neve, or Vera. The name evokes chivalric elegance, complex loyalty, and luminous beauty.

Guinevere has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Guinevere

Guinevere Turner Actor · Born 1968 · United States Guinevere Turner is best known for her role as an actor and screenwriter in the United States. She co-wrote the screenplay for the film 'American Psycho' and appeared in 'Go Fish'. Her work often explores themes of LGBTQ+ identity and culture.

Guinevere – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
MT Girls 0 #152 2 3,773
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
Canada Girls 2024 #276 10 2,795
SG 0 #280 3 11,010
TW Girls 0 #289 1 8,139
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
GH Girls 0 #334 4 6,973
PH Girls 0 #425 5 13,098
ZA 0 #473 2 14,421
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
KW Girls 0 #561 1 19,177
AE Girls 0 #596 2 20,968
SG Girls 0 #627 6 18,916
United States Girls 2024 #643 277 8,487
HK Girls 0 #649 2 16,104
NG Girls 0 #821 6 15,093
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
NL Girls 0 #936 20 5,933
MY Girls 0 #985 10 24,821
BR Girls 0 #990 3 12,708
ZA Girls 0 #1,117 25 25,928
CO Girls 0 #1,152 1 16,140
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781

Guinevere is popular in 23 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
AE
BN
BR

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People also ask about Guinevere

Guinevere is predominantly a girl's name.
Guinevere is a 3 syllable name, pronounced GWIN-ə-VEER (ˈɡwɪnəvɪər).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Guenever, Guinever, Guinivere, Gwenhwyfar, Gwenivere and Gwynevere.
Across languages, Guinevere has these equivalents: Gwenhwyfar (Welsh), Guenièvre (Old French), Ginevra (Italian).
Yes — Guinevere ranked #276 in Canada in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 2 countries.
Guinevere ranks highest in Canada (#276 in 2024).
Guinevere's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #769 in 2014 to #643 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — 1 notable people named Guinevere are in our database, including Guinevere Turner (Actor).