Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Jenifer

      Origin

      English

      Meaning

      Fair, Soft

      Variations

      Genifer, Yenifer, jenfer
      The name Jenifer is of English origin and dates back to medieval times. It is derived from the Old English word fair which means beautiful, and soft which signifies gentleness. Over the centuries, the name Jenifer has evolved in spelling and pronunciation, with various alternative forms such as Jennifer, Jenifer, and even Jennafer or Jeniffer emerging.

      In history, the name Jenifer can be traced back to the 14th century, where it first appeared in English literature and documentation. However, it wasn't until the 20th century that Jenifer gained widespread popularity. In particular, the name Jennifer skyrocketed in usage after the release of the romantic novel, and later the film adaptation, Jennifer Jones in 1943. The character portrayal in the film, along with its iconic name, captured the imagination of the public and resulted in a surge of popularity for the name Jenifer.

      Today, the name Jenifer continues to be widely used around the world. It is often chosen for its beautiful meaning of fairness and gentleness. In many English-speaking countries, it has consistently ranked among the most popular names for girls over the past several decades. The name Jenifer has not only become a part of personal identities but has contributed to the cultural fabric of society through its appearance in literature, film, and various other forms of media.

      Based on our records...

      Williams

      Williams

      This is the most common surname associated with Jenifer.
      John

      John

      This is the most common name of those married to a Jenifer.
      William

      William

      This is the most common name for a child of a Jenifer.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1798 is when there were the most people born with the first name Jenifer.

      Explore the origins of another name.