Jennife

A girl's name of Welsh origin with 265 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Jennife is a two-syllable girl's name with a open, approachable sound — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. With only 265 recorded U.S. births, it is exceptionally rare — the kind of name most people encounter for the first time when they meet your child.

Jennife is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.

Jennife is a girl's baby name of Welsh origin, an unusual truncation of Jennifer, from the Cornish form of Gwenhwyfar, meaning 'white fairy' or 'fair and smooth.' Jennifer became one of the most popular American names of the 1970s–80s, and Jennife represents a rare variant where the final r is omitted — perhaps a spelling that arose in communities where the r was less pronounced.

Jennife is a distinctive variation of one of America's most beloved names, keeping the Welsh heritage and familiar sound in a slightly unusual written form.

EtymologyShow more

Jennife is cataloged under the Welsh naming tradition. Celtic names carry the echoes of ancient insular traditions, often drawing from nature, warfare, and mythology.

In the U.S., Jennife has been recorded as a girl's name since 1965, with 265 total births. Browse the Welsh names hub on this site to explore the broader family.

At a Glance

265

Total births

Since 1965

1974

Peak

23 births

1965

First recorded

24 years of data

Compare Jennife with another name

Popularity Over Time

Jennife has 22+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1965.

First appeared: 1965Peak: 1974 (23 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Jennife
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1980s	106	#6111	▼
1970s	138	#4881	▲
1960s	21	#5954	—

The Story of Jennife

A Gen X name

Peaking in 1974, Jennife is a Gen X staple. Girls named Jennife are most likely born between 1965 and 1984.

How rare is Jennife?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Jennife is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1965, peaked in the 1970s with 138 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Jennife by the numbers

Would fill 6 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(22 years, 1965–1988)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Jennife
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1988	9	#7971	-6 (-40.0%)
1987	15	#5160	+4 (36.4%)
1986	11	#6337	0
1985	11	#6206	-4 (-26.7%)
1984	15	#4828	+7 (87.5%)
1983	8	#7578	-6 (-42.9%)
1982	14	#5042	+1 (7.7%)
1981	13	#5390	+3 (30.0%)
1980	10	#6487	+1 (11.1%)
1979	9	#6939	-2 (-18.2%)
1978	11	#5695	+4 (57.1%)
1977	7	#7855	-6 (-46.2%)
1976	13	#4731	-1 (-7.1%)
1975	14	#4432	-9 (-39.1%)
1974	23	#3039	+9 (64.3%)
1973	14	#4227	-7 (-33.3%)
1972	21	#3109	+9 (75.0%)
1971	12	#4656	-2 (-14.3%)
1970	14	#4123	+6 (75.0%)
1969	8	#5652	+3 (60.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jennife a boy's or girl's name?

Jennife is primarily a girl's name.

When was Jennife most popular?

Jennife reached its peak popularity in 1974 with 23 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Jennife?

Jennife is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 265 babies in the U.S. since 1965. Its peak was in 1974.

Explore More

By Length7-letter names By OriginWelsh names By EndingNames in -e TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1965–1988