Gwendolyn

“Variant of Gwendolen — white ring (Welsh gwen + dolen)” — Welsh origin

Girl's name · #360 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Gwendolyn has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #112 (1951) · 124,385 babies named Gwendolyn all-time · 1 in 1,900 girls born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,400 girls in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 8,500 girls in Switzerland (2024) · about 1 in 11,000 girls in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 43 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Gwendolyns

Gwendolyn Brooks — American writer (1917–2000)
Gwendolyn B. Bennett — American writer (1902–1981)
Gwendolyn MacEwen — Canadian poet and novelist (1941–1987)
Gwendolyn Rutten — Flemish politician
Gwendolyn Lizarraga — activist and politician from Belize

In stories & tradition

Gwendolyn Shepherd — Ruby Red Trilogy · Rubinrot
Gwendolyn — Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade · Fire Emblem Heroes

What Gwendolyns become

Among 112 notable people named Gwendolyn:

Medical professionals appear 1.82× more often than among typical names — e.g. Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler, African-American pharmacist.

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.