Gladys
Meaning & Origin
Meaning: Possessed; Ruler; Princess
Background: The name Gladys originates from the Welsh word 'glad,' meaning 'to be joyful or glad,' combined with the Latin 'gladus,' meaning 'sword.' It can also be linked to the Greek word 'gladys,' referring to a ruler or princess, reflecting its multifaceted roots.
At a glance
Quick stats based on the history of this name.
Lifetime rank
#151
Total births
267,689
Most popular decade
1920s
(218,436 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-998 ranks)
Years in Top 100
49
First recorded year
1880
Gender usage
0.4% male
99.6% female
Stats by gender
Male
- First year
- 1895
- First year births
- 6
- First year rank
- #978
- Peak year
- 1927
- Peak year births
- 38
- Peak rank
- #1,163
- Most recent year
- 1991
- Recent year births
- 5
- Recent rank
- #8,237
Female
- First year
- 1880
- First year births
- 20
- First year rank
- #367
- Peak year
- 1920
- Peak year births
- 8,819
- Peak rank
- #22
- Most recent year
- 2024
- Recent year births
- 45
- Recent rank
- #3,439
Births over time
Number of babies given this name each year.
Rank over time
Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).