The Name Gaynor

The name Gaynor is of Irish and Gaelic origin and can be used as either a boys name or a girls name. However, in recent time Gaynor’s popularity has been to use it as a girls name.

Meaning of the Welsh Name

The meaning of Gaynor is the “son of the fair-skinned one” which can be a bit confusing since it has been used more frequently as a girls name recently. In Irish, it literally means fair and soft. It can also mean strength.

The name Gaynor is another name for Guinevere, which is the medieval form of the name. Gaynor is the modernised version of the name.

Popularity

While Gaynor is not typically a name given to boys, is has been a popular surname or last name. For girls, it is a popular first name. There are many celebrities who have the name Gaynor, and while some of them have changed their name to something more common, not everyone has.

While the name has some popularity, it is still a very unique name in our society. In 2017, Gaynor was not in the top 100 baby girls’ names in Wales.

If you are looking for a name that is not common but is also not extremely uncommon, Gaynor is a good choice for you to add to your list.

Famous People with the Name Gaynor

Famous people with the name Gaynor include:

• the actress Gaynor Faye who has appeared as  Judy Mallett in the hugely popular TV show Coronation Street and  Megan Macey in Emmerdale.
• the singer Gloria Gaynor famous for her song ‘I will survive’.
• Gaynor Hopkins, the singer better known as Bonnie Tyler born in Skewen by Neath.
• Gaynor Llywelyn, the fictional character in the Welsh language show Pobol y Cwm

Useful Resources

• Our comprehensive list of Welsh girls’ names