Gwendlyn: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	22	2	–	#4,186
1930s	32	3	+45%	#3,720
1940s	101	10	+216%	#2,364
1950s	143	14	+42%	#2,355
1960s	128	13	-10%	#2,966
1970s	57	6	-55%	#5,128
1980s	5	1	-91%	#11,067
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	10	1	–	#16,216
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#4,186

1930s

+45%

#3,720

1940s

101

+216%

#2,364

1950s

143

+42%

#2,355

1960s

128

-10%

#2,966

1970s

-55%

#5,128

1980s

-91%

#11,067

1990s

–

2000s

–

#16,216

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Gwendlyn

Gwendlyn is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1921, 498 American babies have been named Gwendlyn. Its peak came in 1952, when 20 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gwendlyn stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gwendlyn?

The median living Gwendlyn is about 66 years old; half are between 58 and 73. An estimated 400 people named Gwendlyn are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Gwendlyn year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	5	#16,349
2001	5	#16,216
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	5	#9,559
1970	9	#5,540
1965	16	#3,192
1960	14	#3,418
1955	13	#3,282
1950	12	#3,126
1945	7	#3,794
1940	8	#3,325
1935	–	–
1930	7	#3,816
1925	7	#4,186
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Gwendlyn, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Gwendlyn?

The median living Gwendlyn is about 66 years old. Half of all living Gwendlyns are between 58 and 73 years old.

How many people named Gwendlyn are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Gwendlyn are alive in the United States, based on 498 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Gwendlyn in 2025?

Gwendlyn did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Gwendlyn?

498 babies have been named Gwendlyn in the United States since 1921, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gwendlyn most popular?

Gwendlyn peaked in 1952, when 20 newborns received the name.

Is Gwendlyn a boy or girl name?

Gwendlyn is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Gwendlyn rising or falling?

Gwendlyn has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Gwendlyn

Gwendlyn popularity over time

The story of Gwendlyn

How old are people named Gwendlyn?

Gwendlyn year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Gwendlyn