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Gladys Name Meaning, Origins & History

Gladys

Pronunciation: GLAD-is

Meaning Lame Origin Welsh Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#3,224
TREND
229
Peak Years
1920, 1921, 1918
Lowest Years
1880, 1881, 2018
Energy Archetype
Reflective & Analytical

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Gladys in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Gladys

  • An established favorite: Gladys held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 49 consecutive years, from 1889 through 1937.
  • More than 267 thousand babies named Gladys: U.S. records list 267,738 babies given the name Gladys from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,023 boys received the name Gladys - about 1 boy for every 261 girls.

What Does the Name Gladys Mean?

Gladys is the English form of the Welsh name Gwladys. The most common explanation derives it from Welsh gwlad, meaning 'country,' 'land,' or 'nation,' plus a feminine ending. The exact sense of the ending is not clear, so the name is usually glossed simply as 'land' or 'country.' An older and less secure explanation treats Gladys as a Welsh form of the Latin name Claudia, the feminine of Claudius. That Roman name is sometimes said to mean 'lame' from Latin claudus, but its own derivation is debated, and the connection between Gladys and Claudia is not firmly established. The two names are best kept separate.

Gladys Name History & Origins

The Welsh name Gwladys was in use by the early Middle Ages. Its best-known bearer is Saint Gwladys, remembered in Welsh tradition as a daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog, wife of Gwynllyw, king of Gwent, and mother of Saint Cadoc. Her cult was centered in south Wales, where churches and holy wells were dedicated to her. The name appears in Welsh genealogies and hagiographic writings, but it remained largely confined to Wales for centuries.

In the 19th century, the anglicized form Gladys entered wider English use. This happened alongside a growing Victorian interest in Welsh history and language, and the name spread to England and later to the United States and other English-speaking countries. By the early 20th century it was a familiar given name in those places, though it became less common later. Gladys is not historically the same as Claudia, despite the occasional older suggestion that the names are related.

How Popular is the Name Gladys?

Gladys remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1889 to 1937. Its highest annual birth count was in 1920, and people born that year turn 106 in 2026.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Famous People Named Gladys

Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight

Explore Name Lists Featuring Gladys

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

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How the Name Gladys Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.

✦ Gladys's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Gladys's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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