Gaynor
Girl name · 268 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Gaynor: 268 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 31 births in 1974.
Gaynor is a name of Welsh origin, derived from Gwenhwyfar, the ancient Celtic name that also gave us Jennifer. It combines *gwen*, meaning "white, fair, or blessed," with *hwyfar*, meaning "smooth" or "soft," so Gaynor translates beautifully as "white phantom" or "fair one." The most famous historical bearer is Gaynor Lloyd, the wife of Richard II’s half-brother, but in modern times the name is most widely associated with American actress and singer Janet Gaynor, the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1929. There are no direct place connections named after a bearer, but the root *gwen* echoes through countless locations in Wales and Brittany. Gaynor is essentially a Welsh variant of Guinevere, the legendary queen of King Arthur, making it rich with mythic and romance.
Girl 25 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 197431 babies
- Latest (1999)
- #5324 babies
- Total births
- 268since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 18%vs prior 5y