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At a Glance: Name: Guinevere – Meaning: white/fair + a debated second element ('phantom' or 'smooth') – Origin: Welsh (via Gwenhwyfar) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: GWIN-eh-veer
Guinevere is a Welsh name pronounced GWIN-eh-veer, tracing back to Gwenhwyfar. It's often explained as simply meaning 'the fair one,' but that's only half the story: the name has a debated second element too, usually rendered as 'white wave' or 'white shadow,' alongside the 'white/fair' part. With its storybook feel and roots that travel back through Welsh tradition, it's a name with real depth behind the pronunciation.
Meaning & Origin of Guinevere
Meaning: White/fair + a debated second element ('phantom' or 'smooth').
Origin: Welsh (via Gwenhwyfar).
A common claim: the fair one Actually: Often simplified to just 'the fair one,' but that reflects only half the name (the 'gwen'/white-fair element) — the debated second element 'hwyfar' is usually included too, commonly rendered as 'white wave' or 'white shadow/phantom.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Guinevere
Phonetic: GWIN-eh-veer IPA: /ˈɡwɪnəvɪr/
Popularity of Guinevere
Guinevere has stayed a rare pick in the U.S., reaching its high point at #916 in 2022 with 299 babies given the name, then settling to #947 in 2024 with 277.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1912–2024.
Make Guinevere Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Guinevere, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Guinevere mean?
White/fair + a debated second element (‘phantom’ or ‘smooth’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Guinevere)
How do you pronounce Guinevere?
Guinevere is pronounced GWIN-eh-veer (IPA: /ˈɡwɪnəvɪr/).
Is Guinevere a popular name right now?
Guinevere is near its all-time peak (#916 in 2022), ranked #947 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1912–2024.)
📊 How popular is Guinevere? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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